A novel photothermal probe, o-phenylenediamine trimer (triOPD)-Ni2+ aggregates with a photothermal conversion efficiency of up to 74.4%, was prepared by CuNi-BTC catalytic oxidation and assembly of OPD. Based on the specific inhibition activity of thiophanate-methyl toward CuNi-BTC, a direct and background-free photothermal sensing platform was fabricated.