A new fluorescent probe for lead ions,p-nitrophenyl 3H-phenoxazin-3-one-7-yl phosphoric acid (NPPA), has been synthesized by linking resorufin (serving as a fluorophore and electron acceptor) to p-nitrophenol (serving as a fluorescence quencher and electron donor) through phosphodiester bonds. When NPPA was irradiated with light, intramolecular fluorescence self-quenching took place due to the PET (photoinduced electron transfer) from the donor to the acceptor. However, upon addition of PbII, the phosphate ester bonds in the probe were cleaved and the fluorophore was released, accompanying the retrievement of fluorescence. A new fluorescent probe for lead ions, p-nitrophenyl 3H-phenoxazin-3-one-7-yl phosphoric acid (NPPA), has been synthesized by linking resorufin (serving as a fluorophore and electron acceptor) to p-nitrophenol a fluorescence quencher and electron donor) through phosphodiester bonds. When NPPA was irradiated with light, intramolecular fluorescence self-quenching took place due to the PET (photoinduced electron transfer) from the donor to the acceptor. However, upon addition of PbII, the phosphate ester bonds in the probe were cleaved and the fluorophore was released, accompanying the retrievement of fluorescence.