A low molecular weight ESIPT-based probe was synthesized and tested for detecting pH, cations, and anions in aqueous solutions. The probe exhibited a good emission in water due to aggregation induced by π-π* stacking. It gave an “off–on” fluorescent response to higher pHs because of blocking the non-radiative ESIPT after deprotonating phenolic hydroxyl groups. Moreover, the fluorescence emission of the probe (water/ethanol = 3:1, pH 10) was quenched only by Cu²⁺ with limit of detection LOD = 3.2 μM. The stoichiometric ratio of the probe/Cu²⁺ complex was found to be 1:1. Furthermore, changes of the probe’s absorption and emission signals (as outputs) in response to the presence of H⁺ and HO^– or Cu²⁺ and Br⁻ stimuli (as chemical inputs) mimics INHIBIT, IMPLICATION and NOT TRANSFER logic gates.

A new water-soluble poly(propylene imine) dendrimer (PPI) modified with 4-sulfo-1,8-naphthalimid units (SNID) and its related structure monomer analog (SNIM) has been prepared by a simple synthesis. The aqueous solution of the monomer exhibited aggregation-induced emission (AIE) at 395 nm, while the dendrimer emitted at 470 nm due to an excimer formation beside the AIE at 395 nm. Fluorescence emission of the aqueous solution of either SNIM or SNID was significantly affected by traces of different miscible organic solvents, and the limits of detection were found to be less than 0.05% (v/v). Moreover, SNID exhibited the function to execute molecular size-based logic gates where it mimics XNOR and INHIBIT logic gates using water and ethanol as inputs and the AIE/excimer emissions as outputs. Hence, the concomitant execution of both XNOR and INHIBIT enables SNID to mimic digital comparators.