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Updated: Jul 14, 2025
09:33
An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
Published on: December 17, 2018
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AIE-based ratiometric fluorescent probe for mercury ion, medium-dependent fluorescence color change and optimized
Xiaoli Chen1, Haixia Zheng1, Xinyi Li1
1Hubei Key Laboratory of Processing and Application of Catalytic Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang 438000, China.
Summary
A novel aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogen, TPES, functions as a selective fluorescent probe for detecting mercury(II) ions. This probe offers rapid, sensitive, and visual detection of mercury(II) in aqueous solutions and solid-state formats.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens offer unique optical properties for sensing applications.
- Mercury(II) ions pose significant environmental and health risks, necessitating sensitive detection methods.
- Developing selective and sensitive probes for mercury(II) detection remains a critical challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize a new AIE-based luminogen, TPES, for the ratiometric fluorescence detection of mercury(II).
- To investigate the probe's selectivity, sensitivity, and mechanism for mercury(II) detection.
- To evaluate the probe's performance in both aqueous solutions and solid-state test strips.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of the AIE-based luminogen TPES.
- Ratiometric fluorescence spectroscopy for mercury(II) detection in THF-H2O solutions.
- Verification of the sensing mechanism using 1H NMR, FTIR, and MS.
- Fabrication and testing of solid-state sensors on filter paper and silica gel plates.
Main Results:
- TPES exhibited a rapid color change from blue to green fluorescence upon exposure to aqueous mercury(II) (98% f_w), with no interference from other metal cations.
- The sensing mechanism was confirmed through spectroscopic analyses.
- Solid-state test strips demonstrated excellent selectivity and sensitivity for mercury(II), with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1 × 10⁻⁵ M on filter paper.
- Detection on silica gel plates further improved the LOD to 1 × 10⁻⁶ M, with a distinct blue-to-yellow fluorescence change visible to the naked eye.
Conclusions:
- TPES serves as an effective ratiometric fluorescence probe for mercury(II) detection, leveraging AIE properties and thioketal deprotection.
- The probe demonstrates high selectivity and sensitivity, with potential for visual detection in aqueous and solid-state formats.
- The developed solid-state sensors offer a promising tool for on-site and rapid detection of mercury(II) ions.
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