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Advances in Fluorescent and Colorimetric Sensors for Detecting Ions and Neutral Molecules

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 1735

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-000, MG, Brazil
Interests: optical detection devices; fluorescence; molecular logic gates; supramolecular chemistry

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Guest Editor
Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina—UFSC, Florianópolis 88040-900, Brazil
Interests: optical sensors; molecular logic gate; bioimaging; medicinal chemistry; catalysis; organic synthesis
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The necessity of understanding the chemical nature of matter emerges not only from scientific curiosity but also from the profound implications that such knowledge carries for human health, safety, and the environment. A lack of understanding regarding the chemical composition of substances can lead to accidents, ranging from environmental contamination to damage to human health. On the other hand, a deeper knowledge of chemical compositions not only ensures safety but also drives scientific and technological progress, enabling the development of new materials and innovations that enhance our daily lives.

Over time, notable progress has been made in the field of chemical sensors, with a particular emphasis on chemosensors. These devices, distinguished by their high sensitivity, selectivity, and adaptability, have become increasingly relevant for addressing analytical demands in diverse areas, including healthcare, environmental monitoring, food quality assurance, biological applications, and industrial processes.

Although many advances in this field have been made in the last few decades, the journey continues as there are still countless chemical species and processes to be monitored using sensors. Furthermore, these sensors still need to be improved to become increasingly efficient.

In this context, it is our pleasure to introduce this Special Issue of Sensors, entitled "Advances in Fluorescent and Colorimetric Sensors for Detecting Ions and Neutral Molecules" dedicated to presenting recent progress in chemosensor research, embracing molecular design, novel materials, innovative sensing principles, and advanced strategies for data acquisition and analysis. This collection aims to summarise recent advances in fluorescent and colorimetric sensors and highlight future directions to boost their scientific and technological impact.

This Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

  • Fluorescent and colorimetric sensors in general: materials, nanomaterials, small molecules, polymers, MOFs, etc.;
  • Chemosensors, chemodosimeters, molecular logic gates as optical devices, etc.;
  • Optical sensors for detection of chemical species in general: ions, molecules, metabolites, etc.;
  • Optical sensors for monitoring physical parameters: humidity, temperature, etc.;
  • Biological applications of optical chemical sensors: biosensors, biomarkers, diagnostics, bioimaging, enzyme activity, biomolecules.

You are invited to submit original and review articles to contribute to a Special Issue that will address the current state of the art in the field of optical chemical sensors.

Dr. Francielly T. Souto
Dr. Gleiston Goncalves Dias
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sensors
  • optical sensors
  • molecular logic gates
  • detection
  • fluorescence
  • colorimetric methods
  • electrochemical methods
  • chemosensor
  • chemodosimeter
  • bioimaging
  • probes
  • advanced materials

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 2757 KB  
Article
Experimental and DFT Investigation of a Vitamin B6-Derived Fluorescent Probe for Detection of Al3+ and Ga3+ Ions in a Buffered Aqueous DMSO Solution
by Maksim N. Zavalishin, Artemiy A. Guschin and George A. Gamov
Sensors 2026, 26(9), 2816; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26092816 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 649
Abstract
A new selective fluorescent probe based on a vitamin B6 derived hydrazone was synthesized and characterized for the detection of Al3+ and Ga3+ ions. The probe’s selectivity and sensitivity were evaluated using UV-Vis, fluorescence, and NMR spectroscopy in a buffered [...] Read more.
A new selective fluorescent probe based on a vitamin B6 derived hydrazone was synthesized and characterized for the detection of Al3+ and Ga3+ ions. The probe’s selectivity and sensitivity were evaluated using UV-Vis, fluorescence, and NMR spectroscopy in a buffered DMSO/water solution, complemented by density functional theory (DFT) calculations to elucidate the electronic structure and coordination modes of the resulting complexes. The probe exhibited a notable “turn-on” fluorescence response upon binding Al3+ and Ga3+, with emission maxima at 466 nm and 477 nm, respectively, and detection limits as low as 48 nM for Al3+ and 33 nM for Ga3+. The probe showed high selectivity for these ions over a wide range of competing cations and anions, forming stable 1:1 complexes with log β′ values of 5.98 for Al3+ and 6.28 for Ga3+. DFT calculations revealed a tridentate coordination mode via the phenolic oxygen, azomethine nitrogen, and carbonyl oxygen, with distinct electronic transitions for each complex, including a ligand-to-metal charge transfer character in the Ga3+ complex. The probe demonstrates reversibility and excellent solution stability, offering a simple and sensitive platform for the environmental and biological monitoring of aluminum(III) and gallium(III) ions. Full article
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16 pages, 4725 KB  
Article
Highly Selective and Sensitive Fluorescent Probe for Copper (II) Ions Based on Coumarin Derivative with Aggregation-Induced Emission
by Jie Liu, Peng Chen, Guoyu Guo, Xinbo Gao, Yaozu Xie, Zikang Li, Zhen Zhang and Shuisheng Chen
Sensors 2026, 26(7), 2087; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26072087 - 27 Mar 2026
Viewed by 727
Abstract
Excessive accumulation of copper ions (Cu2+) in the environment and biological systems poses severe risks to ecological balance and human health, necessitating accurate detection and monitoring of Cu2+. Schiff base derivatives with favorable optical properties provide an efficient strategy [...] Read more.
Excessive accumulation of copper ions (Cu2+) in the environment and biological systems poses severe risks to ecological balance and human health, necessitating accurate detection and monitoring of Cu2+. Schiff base derivatives with favorable optical properties provide an efficient strategy for copper ion recognition. In this paper, fluorescent probe L (5-methyl-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde-(7-diethylaminocoumarin-3-formyl) hydrazone) was synthesized through a three-step reaction using 4-diethylaminosalicylaldehyde and diethyl malonate as starting materials. The structure of probe L was confirmed by melting point analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance. Single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed that probe L crystallized into a triclinic lattice with space group P1. Optical investigations, including UV–Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and aggregation-induced emission studies, demonstrated highly sensitive and selective fluorescence “turn-off” behavior of probe L towards Cu2+ ions in DMSO, with negligible interference from other metal ions. Job’s plot and crystallographic analysis revealed a 1:1 binding stoichiometry between probe L and Cu2+, forming the complex [Cu(L)]. Fluorescence titration experiments revealed a binding constant (Kb) of 5.2 × 106 L/mol and a detection limit of 7.8 × 10−7 mol/L, indicating excellent sensitivity. These results suggest that probe L has considerable promise for Cu2+ detection in aqueous environments, with potential applications in environmental monitoring and public health protection. Full article
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