SensNews November 2018

Sensor100 November 2018 16 Molecular switch detects metals in the environment Researchers from UNIGE have developed a new type of chemical sensor capa- ble of detecting the presence of metals in the environment. When a metal ion is inserted, the molecule changes geometry, acting as an on/ off switch. (UNIGE) An international team, led by researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, has designed a family of molecules capable of bind- ing to metal ions present in its environment and providing an easily detect- able light signal during binding.This new type of sensor forms a 3D struc- ture whose molecules are chiral, that is to say structurally identical but not superimposable, like an image and its reflection in a mirror, or like the left and right hands.These molecules consist of a ring and two luminescent arms that emit a particular type of light in a process called Circular Polar- ized Luminescence (CPL), and selectively detect ions, such as sodium.This research can be read about in Chemical Science. Press Release University of Geneva 15 August