title: Luminescent cation sensors: from host-guest chemistry, supramolecular chemistry to reaction-based mechanisms.
abstract: Other than traditional cation detection strategies, which are solely based on the ion-receptor complementarity, the extension of the concept of supramolecular chemistry and the mechanisms of irreversible analyte-specific reactions have also been integrated into the design of luminescent probes for the detection of cation in view of the exploration of highly sensitive and selective sensors. In this highlight, a versatile range of organic and organometallic architectures with cation-sensing capabilities based on the above mechanisms will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Functional Materials (Areas of Excellence Scheme, University Grants Committee, Hong Kong) and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, P. R. China. wwyam@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Margaret Ching-Lam
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Vivian Wing-Wah
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Yam
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D002412:Cations / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D008968:Molecular Conformation
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes