Pulsed Laser-Driven Molecular Self-assembly of Cephalexin: Aggregation-Induced Fluorescence and Its Utility as a Mercury Ion Sensor.

A fluorescent self-assembly of cephalexin is obtained by pulsed laser irradiation process. An intense fluorescence emission is found in the self-assembled form due to occurrence of a typical aggregation-induced emission in cephalexin molecules. It is observed that fluorescence quenching of the self-assembled fluorescent nanostructures occurs in the presence of extremely low Hg(++) ions concentrations (10(-7) m) as compared to other heavy metal ions e.g. Ferrous (Fe(++) ), Manganese (Mn(++) ), Magnesium (Mg(++) ), Cobalt (Co(++) ), Nickel (Ni(++) ) and Zinc (Zn(++) ) at the same concentrations.