Polydiacetylene rhodamine-based colorimetric chemosensor for Au³⁺ detection

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Developing sensitive and selective chemosensors is crucial for detecting heavy metal ions.
• Polydiacetylene (PDA) materials offer unique chromogenic properties for sensing applications.
• Rhodamine B derivatives are effective ionophores for metal ion recognition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel polydiacetylene combined with rhodamine B (PDA-Rho) colorimetric chemosensor array.
• To investigate the sensitivity and selectivity of the PDA-Rho chemosensor for Au³⁺ ions.
• To demonstrate the potential of the chemosensor for real-world environmental and biological applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of the PDA-Rho chemosensor by embedding a rhodamine B derivative in a polydiacetylene matrix.
• Coating the diacetylene monomer linked with rhodamine B (DA-Rho) onto filter paper via drop-casting.
• Polymerization of DA-Rho using ultraviolet (UV) irradiation to form the PDA-Rho chemosensor.
• Utilizing DFT calculations to understand the complexation between PDA-Rho and Au³⁺.

Main Results:

• The PDA-Rho chemosensor exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity for Au³⁺ ions.
• The colorimetric changes were observable by the naked eye, indicating a rapid detection method.
• DFT calculations confirmed a stable complex formation between PDA-Rho and Au³⁺.
• The chemosensor demonstrated potential for use in real environmental and biological systems.

Conclusions:

• The developed PDA-Rho chemosensor provides a sensitive, selective, and visually detectable platform for Au³⁺ ion detection.
• The sensor is fast, portable, and easy to use, making it suitable for on-site monitoring.
• This method offers a promising approach for accurate Au³⁺ ion detection in environmental and biological samples.