Recognition of potassium ion in water by 15-crown-5 functionalized gold nanoparticles

Reported here is an efficient recognition of K+ by 15-crown-5 functionalized gold nanoparticles in aqueous matrix containing physiologically important cations, such as Li+, Cs+, NH4+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and excess amount of Na+. Upon exposure to K+, the colloidal solution changes from red to blue, in response to surface plasmon absorption of dispersed and aggregated nanoparticles. The concentration ranges of K+ detected in this study are 0.099-0.48 mM and 7.6 microM-0.14 mM, when concentrations of colloidal gold are 54.9 and 7.1 nM, respectively. Recognition of K+ and formation of the aggregates are proposed via a sandwich complex of 2:1 between 15-crown-5 moiety and K+. Also discussed is the possibility of a preorganized structure of 15-crown-5 at the water-organic interface for the efficient complexation with K+.