Ni(II)/Yb(III)-metallogels for distinctive fluorescent 'turn-on' detection of m-phenylenediamine: Toward construction of multiple logic gates

New versatile Schiff base gelator (HL) and its highly selective Ni(II)-and Yb(III)-based metallogels 1-2 have been synthesized and characterized by spectral techniques. Gelator HL in presence of triethylamine (Et3N) with Ni (NO3)(2)center dot 6H(2)O and anhydrous Yb(NO3)(3) in DMF/MeOH(1:1) solvents forms MG1 and MG2 supramolecular gels, respectively at room temperature (rt). Rheological results show thermal stability up to 100 degree celsius and structurally rigid nature of MG1 and MG2. Remarkably, MG1 and MG2 were examined for identification of cations, anions, nitroaromatics and aromatic amines (AAs) but unable to recognize any analytes except for m-phenylenediamine (MPD) by using MG1. Metallogel MG1 shows highly selective response to MPD environmental pollutant with a limit of detection (LoD) of 7.58 x 10(-7) M, without any interference of competing analytes. Interestingly, depending upon fascinating fluorescent On-Off-On switching behavior, molecular logic device has been fabricated with AND and IMPLICATION-logic gates function by employing the chemical inputs (i) HB, Ni(II) (MG1), Yb(III) (MG2) and (ii) HB, MG1 and MPD based on emission change at different wavelengths as output signal.