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A ratiometric green-to-blue emitting Hg2+ ion-responsive ionic liquid-based micro-optode
Shubham Lama1, Sabbir Ahamed1, Shraddha Rai1
1Department of Chemistry, University of North Bengal, Raja Rammohunpur, Darjeeling, West Bengal-734013, India.. sudhirkumardas@nbu.ac.in.
The Analyst
|July 14, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a novel ionic liquid (IL) that changes color in response to mercury ions (Hg2+). This mercury-sensing material is useful for environmental monitoring and creating secure inks.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Ionic liquids (ILs) offer unique solvent-free properties for various applications.
- Developing sensitive and selective sensors for heavy metal detection remains a critical challenge.
- Photoluminescent materials are increasingly utilized in sensing and security applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize a novel Hg2+ ion-responsive ionic liquid (IL) with ratiometric green-to-blue emission.
- To develop a micro-optode (mHPTIL) and a paper-strip-based test kit for Hg2+ detection.
- To explore the potential of IL-based materials for environmental and forensic monitoring.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of trihexyltetradecylphosphonium hydroxyproline-1,3,6-trisulfonate (HPTIL) as a photoluminescent IL.
- Fabrication of a micro-optode (mHPTIL) using the synthesized IL.
- Investigation of the ratiometric fluorescence response of mHPTIL to Hg2+ ions in aqueous suspension.
- Development and testing of a solid-state paper-strip test kit for Hg2+ detection.
Main Results:
- The synthesized HPTIL exhibited green-to-blue ratiometric emission upon interaction with Hg2+ ions.
- The mHPTIL system demonstrated high sensitivity for Hg2+ detection, with a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 1.67 nM.
- A portable paper-strip test kit was successfully developed for on-site Hg2+ monitoring.
- Neat HPTIL functioned effectively as a solvent-free photoluminescent ink for security applications.
Conclusions:
- The developed Hg2+-responsive IL and its derived micro-optode offer a sensitive and selective platform for heavy metal detection.
- The paper-strip test kit provides a convenient and portable solution for environmental and forensic Hg2+ monitoring.
- This study introduces a novel approach for creating low-dimensional IL-based materials with significant potential in sensing technologies.
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