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Colorimetric and bare-eye detection of alkaline earth metal ions based on the aggregation of silver nanoparticles functionalized with thioglycolic acid

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Abstract

We describe a simple and rapid method for colorimetric and bare-eye detection of the alkaline earth metal ions Mg(II), Ca(II), Sr(II) and Ba(II) based on the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) functionalized with thioglycolic acid (TGA). The TGA ligand was self-assembled onto the AgNPs to form a probe that undergoes a color change from yellow to orange or red on exposure to the alkaline earth ions. It is presumed that the color change is a result of the aggregation of the AgNPs caused by the interaction of the bivalent ions with the carboxy groups on the AgNPs. The color change can be used for bare-eye and colorimetric determination of the alkaline earth metal ions, for example to rapidly determine water hardness.

We have developed an efficient colorimetric method for alkaline earth metal ions using silver nanoparticles functionalized with thioglycolic acid as probe. This probe selectively recognizes alkaline earth metal ions through a distinct visual color change from yellow to red.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the program of the Food Safety and Nutrition Innovation Team of Shanghai Normal University (DXL123).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, College of Life and Environment Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Guilin Road 100, Shanghai, 200234, China

    Xiaoyan Wu, Wanxin Tang, Cong Hou, Chao Zhang & Ningning Zhu

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  1. Xiaoyan Wu
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  2. Wanxin Tang
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  3. Cong Hou
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  4. Chao Zhang
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  5. Ningning Zhu
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Correspondence to Ningning Zhu.

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Wu, X., Tang, W., Hou, C. et al. Colorimetric and bare-eye detection of alkaline earth metal ions based on the aggregation of silver nanoparticles functionalized with thioglycolic acid. Microchim Acta 181, 991–998 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-014-1185-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-014-1185-x

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