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A synergistic coordination strategy for colorimetric sensing of chromium(III) ions using gold nanoparticles

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Abstract

We report a simple, facile, and reliable colorimetric system for detection of chromium(III) ions (Cr3+) using citrate- and thiourea-modified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The colorimetric sensing strategy is based on the synergistic coordination interaction of citrate and thiourea toward Cr3+ on the surface of AuNPs, leading to the aggregation of AuNPs which produces a color change from red to purple. Under the optimal conditions, this colorimetric sensing system shows an excellent selectivity and sensitivity for Cr3+, and the limit of detection (LOD) is estimated to be 0.05 μM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, which is far below the current standard stipulated by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1.9 μM). Moreover, this LOD is one and a half orders of magnitude lower than those of previously reported modified AuNPs-based colorimetric methods. Visual color change can be observed when 50 μM of Cr3+ was introduced to the sensing system. Furthermore, this colorimetric sensing system can be employed for detection of Cr3+ in diluted natural water samples.

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Acknowledgments

The support of this research by the Undergraduate Innovation Fund Project of Southwest University of Science and Technology (Grant No. CX16-096), Foundation of Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province (Grant No. 2015JY0053), and Teaching Reform Project of Southwest University of Science and Technology (Grant No. 16xn0022) is gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. School of National Defence Science & Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, Sichuan, 621010, China

    Dengying Long & Haili Yu

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  1. Dengying Long
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  2. Haili Yu
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Correspondence to Haili Yu.

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Long, D., Yu, H. A synergistic coordination strategy for colorimetric sensing of chromium(III) ions using gold nanoparticles. Anal Bioanal Chem 408, 8551–8557 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-016-9990-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-016-9990-1

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