We report the detection of Cu2+ ion with fluorescence light-up probe, triazolylpyrene (TNDMBPy). Thus, the probe showed a remarkable fluorescence enhancement of both of the monomer and excimer emissions and a 2: 1 probe–Cu2+ complexation with high selectivity, high stability constant and low detection limit. Formation of the excimer was also rationalized on the basis of DFT calculation. Our probe is also capable of sensing SDS ...