A spectroscopic probe with FRET-ICT feature for thiophenol monitoring in real water samples.

[Display omitted] • A novel FRET-ICT-based probe DMNP was designed for detecting thiophenol. • DMNP has an ultrahigh ETE and clear spacing of two emission peaks. • DMNP achieved the dual colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent strategy. • DMNP has been successfully used for thiophenol detection in real water samples. Thiophenol (PhSH) is widely used in industry, however, it is extremely harmful to the environment and human health due to its high toxicity. In this work, we developed a new FRET-ICT-based ratiometric fluorescent and colorimetric probe (DMNP) for detecting PhSH. DMNP had an ultrahigh energy transfer efficiency (99.7%) and clear spacing of two emission peaks (133 nm). DMNP achieved a fast response to PhSH and exhibited drastic enhancement (over 2100 folds) of the fluorescence intensity ratio upon addition of PhSH. DMNP showed good linear response in the PhSH concentration ranges of 0.5–13 μM and 17.0–22.0 μM. Meanwhile, DMNP could also be applied to monitor PhSH in a variety of real water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]