Globally Ultra-Trace Intelligent Detection of Hydrazine in Eco-Environment with Ratiometric Fluorescent Bioimaging

Abstract

Inorganic pollutants, due to their chemical stability, toxicity, and persistence in the environment, have become a growing concern for global ecosystems. Among them, hydrazine (N2H4), a highly reactive specie widely used in industrial processes because of its high reactivity, poses significant ecological risks. Although significant advances have been made in the detection of N2H4 in ecological contexts, the global and simple detection of N2H4 in eco-environment remains a significant challenge. Herein, we developed an ultra-trace fluorescence chemosensor, DIPOT, and integrated it into a portable and fluorometric tool for intelligently quantitative detection and visualization of N2H4 using a smartphone app. DIPOT exhibited excellent ratiometric fluorescence performance in aqueous solution with a detection limit as low as 4.5 nM, emitting red fluorescence that shifted to green upon the addition of N2H4. Furthermore, it has been successfully applied to detection of ultra-trace levels of N2H4 in over 10 different eco-environmental samples, including water, soil, and crops, and has enabled ultra-sensitive ratiometric bioimaging of various ecological organisms. Our findings provide a simple and effective approach for globally ultra-trace intelligent detection of N2H4 in eco-environmental contexts.

Keywords: Ratiometric fluorescence chemosensor, hydrazine, intelligent detection, global analysis, ultra-sensitive bioimaging, eco-environment