Figure 2.

Characterization of the fluorogenic aggregation process. a) Fluorescence of TPE‐4TA (5 μm) by stepwise addition of Ag⁺ in deionized water; b) Plot of intensity at 504 nm in (a) as a function of [Ag⁺]/[TPE‐4TA]. c) DLS and d) SEM characterization of the fluorescent solution. e) Fluorescence of TPE‐4TA (5 μm) mixed with metal ions (20 μm, including Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺ Fe³⁺, Ni²⁺, Au⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pd²⁺, and Co²⁺) in phosphate aqueous solution (pH 7.4). f) Fluorescence of TPE‐4TA (10 μm) at 504 nm against the pH values of the phosphate aqueous solution in the absence or presence of Ag⁺ or Hg²⁺ (10 equiv) respectively. λ_ex=368 nm.