A new fluorescence chemosensor based on benzothiazole derivative for Zn²⁺ and its logic gate behavior

A novel benzothiazole derivative J as a fluorescent chemosensor for Zn²⁺ has been designed and synthesized. The chemosensor J exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity to Zn²⁺ as fluorescence “turn-on” behavior, which the other cations do not make sense. The detection limit calculated by fluorescence titration method was 1.64 × 10⁻⁸ M. Furthermore, the generated J-Zn²⁺ ensemble could recover the enhanced fluorescence upon the addition of EDTA generating an “on-off-on” recycle. In addition, the test strip based on J was fabricated, which could act as a convenient and efficient Zn²⁺ test kit.