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Colorimetric determination of copper ions based on the catalytic leaching of silver from the shell of silver-coated gold nanorods

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Abstract

We have developed a method for the colorimetric determination of copper ions (Cu2+) that is based on the use of silver-coated gold nanorods (Au@Ag NRs). Its outstanding selectivity and sensitivity result from the catalytic leaching process that occurs between Cu2+, thiosulfate (S2O3 2−), and the surface of the Au@Ag NRs. The intrinsic color of the Au@Ag NRs changes from bright red to bluish green with decreasing thickness of the silver coating. The addition of Cu2+ accelerates the leaching of silver from the shell caused in the presence of S2O3 2−. This result in a decrease in the thickness of the silver shell which is accompanied a change in color and absorption spectra of the colloidal solution. The shifts in the absorption maxima are linearly related to the concentrations of Cu2+ over the 3–1,000 nM concentration range (R = 0.996). The method is cost effective and was applied to the determination of Cu2+ in real water samples.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, State Education Ministry, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 21275158), and the 100 Talents Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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Correspondence to Lingxin Chen.

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Wang, X., Chen, L. & Chen, L. Colorimetric determination of copper ions based on the catalytic leaching of silver from the shell of silver-coated gold nanorods. Microchim Acta 181, 105–110 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-013-1075-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-013-1075-7

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