A novel visual ratiometric fluorescent sensing platform for highly-sensitive visual detection of tetracyclines by a lanthanide- functionalized palygorskite nanomaterial.

•A palygorskite-based ratiometric fluorescent probe for tetracyclines is designed.•The nanoprobe shows a real-time, visual and sensitive detection for tetracyclines.•The limit of detection of this nanoprobe is 7.1nM.•The nanoprobe-immobilized test paper can realizes analysis by using a smartphone.