Abstract A spiropyran-based probe was developed. It serves as a fluorescence turn-on probe for selective detection of Ce3+ in both ethanol and aqueous (water/ethanol, 1:9 or 9:1, v/v) media. Ce3+ can induce photochromism of the probe though the probe exhibits negligible photochromic property by itself. The probe is sensitive to Ce3+ and the detection limit reaches 1.7 μmol/L. It exhibits a high selectivity for Ce3+ ion over other common metal cations including Li+, Na+, Ag+, Sr2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Hg2+, Zn2+, Cr3+, Al3+, Fe3+ and Bi3+ and lanthanide ions Nd3+, Yb3+ and La3+. The probe may be used for quantitative determination of the concentration of Ce3+ ion in a range of 1–10 μmol/L and for application to environmental water samples. Sensing mechanism of the probe towards Ce3+ ion is proposed.

中文翻译：

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一种基于螺吡喃的荧光探针，用于灵敏检测 Ce3+ 离子

摘要 研制了一种基于螺吡喃的探针。它用作荧光开启探针，用于选择性检测乙醇和水（水/乙醇，1:9 或 9:1，v/v）介质中的 Ce3+。Ce3+ 可以诱导探针的光致变色，尽管探针本身表现出可忽略的光致变色特性。该探针对Ce3+敏感，检测限达到1.7 μmol/L。它对 Ce3+ 离子的选择性高于其他常见金属阳离子，包括 Li+、Na+、Ag+、Sr2+、Ni2+、Co2+、Hg2+、Zn2+、Cr3+、Al3+、Fe3+ 和 Bi3+，以及镧系元素离子 Nd3+、Yb3+ 和 La3+。该探针可用于定量测定 1-10 μmol/L 范围内的 Ce3+ 离子浓度，并适用于环境水样。提出了探针对Ce3+离子的传感机制。