A colorimetric and fluorometric dual-modal chemosensor for cyanide in water

We have developed a new class of benzothiazolium hemicyanine Cu(II) complex based colorimetric and fluorometric dual-modal chemosensor for the toxic cyanide anion in 100% water solution. This dual-modal response was achieved by the removal of Cu(II) ions from sensor complex in the presence of cyanide to recover the internal charge transfer (ICT) character of the hemicyanine dye. The novel sensor shows good sensitivity with μM-level detection limit, and displays high selectivity to cyanide in the presence of other common interference anions.