A comprehensive review on recent advances in copper sensors

•First report comprising of chemical, polymer and nanoparticle based copper sensors.•Classification of copper sensors based on (1) Colorimetric (2) Fluorimetric and (3) Dual.•Emphasis on absorption and emission parameters of Cu2+ binding, binding sites, sensing mechanisms and their applications.•Miscellaneous category depicting sensors based on techniques other than Colorimetric/Fluorimetric.