Mercury detection in a microfluidic device by using a molecular sensor soluble in organoaqueous solvent

Area of Science:

• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Development of sensitive and selective fluorescent sensors is crucial for environmental monitoring.
• Phosphane sulfide derivatives offer potential as fluorophores due to tunable electronic properties.
• Organoaqueous solubility is desirable for versatile sensor applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize novel fluorescent sensor molecules based on phosphane sulfide.
• To optimize fluorophore structure for enhanced solubility and photophysical characteristics.
• To integrate the sensor into a microfluidic system for mercury detection.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of phosphane sulfide derivatives with varying structures.
• Photophysical characterization including absorption and emission spectra.
• Quantum chemical calculations to predict and explain properties.
• Mercury complexation studies and fluorescence quenching measurements.
• Fabrication and testing of a microfluidic chip with integrated fluorescence detection.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized a series of organoaqueous soluble fluorescent sensor molecules.
• Optimized fluorophore structure achieved a balance between solubility and desired photophysical properties.
• Observed efficient fluorescence quenching upon mercury complexation with the sensor.
• Demonstrated successful integration and operation of the sensor within a microfluidic chip for mercury detection.

Conclusions:

• The designed phosphane sulfide-based fluorescent sensors exhibit excellent performance for mercury detection.
• The sensor's properties are well-supported by theoretical quantum chemical calculations.
• The integration into a microfluidic chip enables sensitive and efficient fluorescence-based mercury analysis.