Thiamine-functionalized silver nanoparticles for the highly selective and sensitive colorimetric detection of Hg2+ ions

Authors: Khan U., Niaz A., Shah A., Zaman M.I., Zia M.A., Iftikhar F.J., Nisar J., Ahmed M.N., Akhter M.S., Shah A.H.

Author Affiliations: Khan, U., Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology, Bannu, KPK, 28100, Pakistan; Niaz, A., Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology, Bannu, KPK, 28100, Pakistan; Shah, A., Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan; Zaman, M.I., Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology, Bannu, KPK, 28100, Pakistan; Zia, M.A., University of Education, Attock, Punjab, 43600, Pakistan; Iftikhar, F.J., Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan; Nisar, J., National Centre of Excellence in Physical Chemistry, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan; Ahmed, M.N., Department of Chemistry, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, 13100, Pakistan; Akhter, M.S., College of Science, University of Bahrain32038, Bahrain; Shah, A.H., University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

Publication Date: 2018

Hg2+ contamination is a serious threat to the environment; hence, the development of methods for its trace level detection is urgently required. To contribute in this domain, we report for the first time the application of a highly sensitive and selective colorimetric sensing platform for Hg2+ ions using thiamine-functionalized silver nanoparticles (Th-AgNPs). Upon the addition of Hg2+ ions to the solution, the AgNPs exhibited a noticeable color change from yellow to violet-blue. This color change was monitored by the UV-vis spectrophotometric observation of a significant decrease in the absorption band at 395 nm along with the appearance of a new peak at 550 nm. The designed sensor demonstrated good sensitivity in the concentration range of 1 × 10-8 to 5 × 10-6 M with a detection limit of 5 nM. The sensor also showed high selectivity for Hg2+ when tested in the presence of several competing metal ions. Moreover, the method was found to be applicable to river water samples with satisfactory percentage recoveries. © 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.

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Eshan2020-11-28T18:21:08+00:00

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