Highly Selective Colorimetric Sensor for Cyanide Ions in Water Samples Using Polydopamine-Stabilized Silver...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Nanomaterials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Cyanide ions (CN-) pose significant environmental and health risks due to their high toxicity.
• Rapid and accurate detection of cyanide in water is crucial for environmental monitoring and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a polydopamine-stabilized silver nanoparticles (PDA-AgNPs) based colorimetric probe for sensitive and selective cyanide ion detection.
• To establish a simple, rapid, and reliable method for on-site cyanide monitoring in water samples.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of PDA-AgNPs using UV-Vis, TEM, XRD, FT-IR, DLS, and Zeta potential.
• Colorimetric detection of cyanide ions based on the changes in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and visible color.
• Development of a smartphone-based platform for practical application.

Main Results:

• PDA-AgNPs exhibited a distinct color change from yellow to colorless upon reaction with cyanide ions, attributed to [Ag(CN)2]- complex formation.
• The method achieved a low limit of detection (0.12 µM) with excellent selectivity for cyanide ions over common interfering ions.
• The assay demonstrated reliability and acceptable recovery percentages in real water samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed PDA-AgNPs colorimetric probe offers a promising tool for rapid, sensitive, and selective cyanide ion detection in environmental water.
• The integration with a smartphone platform enhances the practical applicability for on-site monitoring, contributing to improved water safety.