A “Turn off” fluorescence sensor for Fe2+, Fe3+, and Cu2+ ions based on novel pyrene-functionalized chitosan

Iron and copper ions detection are very important for environmental and biological processes. In this work, novel pyrene-functionalized Schiff base chitosan (Chit-Pyr) was synthesized, and this hybrid material was used as a “turn-off” fluorescence sensor for the detection of Fe2+, Fe3+, and Cu2+ ions. FTIR, UV-Vis, TGA, and SEM were used to examine for structural, thermal, and morphological properties of Chit-Pyr. This sensor exhibited a selectivity towards Fe2+, Fe3+, and Cu2+ ions among several common metal cations in the DMF dispersion. The results obtained that the proposed “turn off” fluorescence sensing mechanism of Chit-Pyr was simple and sensitive for the determination of Fe2+, Fe3+, and Cu2+ ions.