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Optimization of a sensitive method for the “switch-on” determination of mercury(II) in waters using Rhodamine B capped gold nanoparticles as a fluorescence sensor

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Abstract

Monodisperse and “naked” gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were modified with thioglycolic acid (TGA). The fluorescence of rhodamine B (RB) is quenched completely by the gold NPs surface with negative charge mainly as a result of fluorescence resonance energy transition (FRET) and collision. The quenching mechanism can be described by a Langmuir isotherm, which was systematically investigated by steady-state fluorescence spectrometry and absorption spectrometry. Hg(II) ion disrupts the GNPs–RB pair, producing a large “switch-on” fluorescence. A low background, highly sensitive and reproducible fluorescence assay for Hg(II) is presented. Under the optimum conditions, the restoration fluorescence intensity is proportional to the concentration of Hg(II). The calibration graphs are linear over the range of 1.0 × 10−9 to 3.1 × 10−8 mol L−1 with a detection limit of 4.0 × 10−10 mol L−1. The relative standard deviation was 1.2% for a 5.0 × 10−9 mol L−1 Hg(II) solution (N = 6). This method was applied to the analysis of Hg(II) in environmental water samples, and the results were consistent with those of atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS).

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support from the Education Commission Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (2006kj153B, 2006jql204).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Sciences, Anqing Normal College, Anqing, 246003, People’s Republic of China

    AiFang Zheng, Ganning Wu & Heping Wei

  2. School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Anhui Key Laboratory of Functional Molecule, Anqing Normal College, Anqing, 246003, People’s Republic of China

    Jinlong Chen, Chiyang He, Xiaoming Kai, Genhua Wu & Youcun Chen

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  1. AiFang Zheng
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  2. Jinlong Chen
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Correspondence to Jinlong Chen.

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Zheng, A., Chen, J., Wu, G. et al. Optimization of a sensitive method for the “switch-on” determination of mercury(II) in waters using Rhodamine B capped gold nanoparticles as a fluorescence sensor. Microchim Acta 164, 17–27 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-008-0023-4

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