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A Simple and Highly Sensitive Thymine Sensor for Mercury Ion Detection Based on Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
1Instrumental Analysis and Research Centre, Ministry of Education of the Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, The Key Lab of Low-Carbon Chemistry & Energy Conservation of Guangdong Province, Key Laboratory of Environment and Energy Chemistry of Guangdong School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, 135 Xingang West Road, Guangzhou 510275, China. yanghao9@mail2.sysu.edu.cn.
A new surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy sensor using thymine can detect toxic mercury ions (Hg2+) at ultra-low levels. This method offers selective and sensitive environmental monitoring for improved human health and safety.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Mercury ions (Hg2+) pose significant environmental and human health risks due to their high toxicity.
- Accurate and sensitive detection methods for Hg2+ are crucial for environmental monitoring and safety.
- Current detection techniques face challenges in sensitivity, selectivity, and practical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple and highly sensitive sensor for the detection of mercury ions (Hg2+).
- To utilize thymine as a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) probe for Hg2+ detection.
- To evaluate the sensor's selectivity, limit of detection (LOD), and applicability in real-world environmental samples.
Main Methods:
- Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was employed using thymine as the sensing material.
- The sensor was tested for its ability to detect Hg2+ ions in solution.
- Selectivity was assessed against various alkali, heavy metal, and transition-metal ions.
- The limit of detection (LOD) was determined under laboratory and practical environmental conditions.
Main Results:
- The developed thymine-based SERS sensor achieved a limit of detection (LOD) better than 0.1 nM (0.02 ppb) for Hg2+.
- The sensor demonstrated high selectivity, distinguishing Hg2+ from seven other types of metal ions.
- In practical environmental samples, the LOD reached 1 ppb, which is half the US EPA standard.
- The underlying thymine-Hg2+-thymine coordination mechanism was elucidated.
Conclusions:
- Thymine serves as an effective and simple SERS-based sensor for highly sensitive and selective Hg2+ detection.
- The sensor's performance in real environmental systems meets stringent regulatory standards.
- The findings suggest a potential platform for detecting other toxic metal ions by modifying the ligand.
- This research offers a promising approach for addressing environmental pollution and safeguarding public health.
