Development of rare earth europium composites for highly sensitive fluorescence enhancement for detection of uranyl ions in water and cells

Uranium plays a crucial role in the nuclear energy sector, yet its radiological and chemical characteristics can pose environmental and public health hazards. This study introduces a novel bimetallic system based on cation-cation interactions, involving the binding of europium ions (Eu 3+ ) to uranyl ions (UO 2 2+ ) via phosphate bridges. The method exhibits excellent linearity in the uranyl ion concentration range of 10–90 nM, with a detection limit as low as 10 nM. The system has been successfully applied to detect UO 2 2+ in actual water samples and for fluorescence imaging of UO 2 2+ in cells. These findings highlight the potential of Eu-P as a promising material for sensing UO 2 2+ , offering significant contributions to environmental monitoring and public health protection.