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• A series noval chalcone derivatives (G b1–6) as gel factors were successfully synthesized. • The gels can be used for the stimulation response of hydrazine hydrate. • The gels can be used to identify fuel adulteration. • The gels can be used to recovery of spilled oil from oil-water mixtures. A series of novel naphthalene-chalcone gelators, G b1–6 , with different alkyl units, were designed and synthesized as potential low molecular weight gelators. The prepared gelators demonstrated gelation behavior in various organic solvents and fuel phases. The results indicated that the alkyl chains played a significant role in the gelation behavior of the gelators. The thermal stability results revealed that, at the same concentration, an increase in the length of the alkyl chains of the gelators led to an increase in the gel-sol transition temperature. The gelators were subjected to FT-IR, SEM, and XRD analysis, which demonstrated the presence of π-π stacking, van der Waals forces, and hydrogen bonding during the self-assembly process of the gel. UV–visible absorption and emission spectroscopy of the gelators were also studied, and it was discovered that gelators G b2 and G b5 exhibited a minimum detection limit of 0.28 μM and 0.16 μM, respectively, for hydrazine hydrate. Additionally, the gel was utilized for the recovery of oil from oil-water mixtures and for the identification of fuel adulteration. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]