Abstract
Highly sensitive and selective mercury detection in aqueous media is urgently needed because mercury poisoning usually results from exposure to water-soluble forms of mercury by inhalation and/or ingesting. An ionic conjugated oligoelectrolye (M1Q) based on 1,4-bis(styryl)benzene was synthesized as a fluorescent mercury(II) probe. The thioacetal moiety and quaternized ammonium group were incorporated for Hg2+ recognition and water solubility. A neutral Hg2+ probe (M1) was also prepared based on the same molecular backbone, and their sensor characteristics were investigated in a mixture of acetonitrile/water and in water. In the presence of Hg2+, the thioacetal group was converted to aldehyde functionality, and the resulting photoluminescence intensity decreased. In water, M1Q successfully demonstrated highly sensitive detection, showing a binding toward Hg2+ that was ~15 times stronger and a signal on/off ratio twice as high, compared to M1 in acetonitrile/water. The thioacetal deprotection by Hg2+ ions was substantially facilitated in water without an organic cosolvent. The limit of detection was measured to be 7 nM with a detection range of 10–180 nM in 100% aqueous medium.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 2082 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-11 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Sensors (Switzerland) |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Keywords
- Aqueous media
- Chemosensor
- Conjugated oligoelectrolyte
- Fluorescent sensor
- Mercury
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Instrumentation
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering