A Cu2+-selective fluorescent chemosensor based on BODIPY with two pyridine ligands and logic gate

•A novel BODIPY-based near-infrared fluorescent chemosensor (Py-1) was synthesized.•Py-1 showed remarkable color changes and fluorescence quenching with Cu2+.•An IMPLICATION logic gate and “Set–Reset” logic devices were constructed.

A novel near-infrared fluorescent chemosensor based on BODIPY (Py-1) has been synthesized and characterized. Py-1 displays high selectivity and sensitivity for sensing Cu2+ over other metal ions in acetonitrile. Upon addition of Cu2+ ions, the maximum absorption band of Py-1 in CH3CN displays a red shift from 603 to 608 nm, which results in a visual color change from pink to blue. When Py-1 is excited at 600 nm in the presence of Cu2+, the fluorescent emission intensity of Py-1 at 617 nm is quenched over 86%. Notably, the complex of Py-1–Cu2+ can be restored with the introduction of EDTA or S2−. Consequently, an IMPLICATION logic gate at molecular level operating in fluorescence mode with Cu2+ and S2− as chemical inputs can be constructed. Finally, based on the reversible and reproducible system, a nanoscale sequential memory unit displaying “Writing–Reading–Erasing–Reading” functions can be integrated.

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