A hexaazatriphenylene fused large discotic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with selective and sensitive metal-ion sensing properties

A HAT based large PAH discotic molecule PN_(8)is developed. The enlarged chromophoric core and doping heteroatoms enable colorimetric and fluorometric sensing of Cu^(2+)and Zn^(2+)with highly appreciable optical changes, good selectivity and low detection limit. Moreover, PN_(8)was demonstrated as an excellent adsorbent to remove Cu^(2+)and Zn^(2+)from wastewater.