•A dansyl-labeled anionic amphiphile with a hexadecanoic carbon chain was synthesized.•The synthesized amphiphile can be used to differentiate micelle and vesicle.•The fluorescence anisotropy can detect the micellar growth efficiently.•The synthesized amphiphile is a better fluorescence probe than pyrene and DPH.The probing properties of a new fluorophore-labeled anionic surfactant, sodium 16-(N-dansyl)aminocetylate (16-DAN-ACA) were investigated systematically in molecular assemblies, especially in the transitions between micelles and vesicles. 16-DAN-ACA can efficiently differentiate the two different aggregate types in mixed cationic and anionic surfactant systems. The fluorescence anisotropy of 16-DAN-ACA was found to be sensitive for directly detecting the micellar growth in micelles containing oppositely charged surfactants; both cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) systems and anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) systems were studied. The results indicated that the 16-DAN-ACA is a good fluorescent probe for differentiating the different aggregates, and even more can be used to detect the micellar growth.Graphical abstract

We previously reported the construction of a family of fluorescent film sensors for organic copper salts by covalently coupling polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on epoxy-terminated self-assembled monolayers on glass plate surfaces. Here we investigate the sensing properties and mechanism of covalently coupling pyrene on a glass plate surface via a long flexible “Y” type spacer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and fluorescence spectra measurements demonstrate the covalent attachment of pyrene in our adlayer. Compared with those results obtained in the previous studies, this new film sensor did not show highly selectivity for organic copper salts, which can be attributed to the introduction of sulfonyl groups connecting the pyrene moieties and the spacers. The presence of sulfonyl units made the microenvironments of pyrene relatively hydrophilic and thus showed less screening effect for inorganic ions. The specificity and reversibility of the film sensor toward Cu (II) made it attractive for sensing applications.Graphical abstractFluorescence lifetime data revealed that the quenching mechanism of the copper (II) ions to the emission of this new “Y” type spacer film is a combination of static and dynamic quenching, which consistent with less screening effect of spacer layer due to the introduction of the sulfonyl groups connecting the spacers and pyrene moieties.Highlights► Pyrene derivative was tethered on epoxy-terminated SAM via “Y” type spacer. ► The fabricated film senor was sensitive to copper (II) ions in aqueous solution. ► The microenvironments effect imparts this new film sensor different performance. ► The response of the film sensor to copper (II) ions is specific and reversible.