A highly selective G-quadruplex-based luminescent switch-on probe for the detection of nanomolar strontium(II) ions in sea water

A G-quadruplex-selective luminescent iridium(III) switch-on probe has been developed for the selective detection of Sr2+ ions in buffered solutions and sea water. The method achieves high sensitivity towards Sr2+ ions with a detection limit in the nanomolar range and high selectivity for Sr2+ ions over other metal ions.