A dinuclear zinc complex PPi sensor is provided, that may be represented by the formulawhere X is hydrogen, —COOEt, —CH═CH2, —OR, or —NR2, wherein X is a monovalent organic group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms. A method of preparing the dinuclear zinc complex PPi sensor is also provided. Methods for detecting PPi in an aqueous solution and methods for pyrosequencing by using the dinuclear zinc complex are described.