A highly sensitive and selective fluorescent sensor for detection of Al(3+) using a europium(III) quinolinecarboxylate.

Eu2PQC6 has been developed to detect Al(3+) by monitoring the quenching of the europium-based emission, with the lowest detection limit of ∼32 pM and the quantitative detection range to 150 μM. Eu2PQC6 is the first ever example that the europium(III) complex serves as an Al(3+) fluorescent sensor based on "competition-displacement" mode.