Living systems are commonly able to quantitatively detect and process (bio)chemical signals. In contrast, synthetic analogues capable of detecting and amplifying an external signal input using only chemical reactions, and not requiring enzymatic transformations, is exceedingly rare and only a few systems 2,4-9 exist. Signal-responsive materials capable of translating and amplifying a signal 10 into a global macroscopic change will find many applications ranging from biomedical sensors , advanced forensics to socioenvironmental diagnostics (assays to detect e.g. food pollutants, explosives or disease markers). Traditionally, chemo-sensors allow for sensitive detection by amplification of a reporter signal via a signal detection event, which is frequently coupled with photoluminescence or colorimetry to obtain an optical read-out. A variety of chemical signals have been used as active triggers to initiate the self-propagating amplification reaction on reagents, including hydrogen peroxide , thiols and fluoride , amongst others .