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Highly sensitive SERS probe for mercury(II) using cyclodextrin-protected silver nanoparticles functionalized with methimazole

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Abstract

We have developed a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probe for the determination of mercury(II) using methimazole-functionalized and cyclodextrin-coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). These AgNPs in pH 10 solution containing sodium chloride exhibit strong SERS at 502 cm−1. Its intensity strongly decreases in the presence of Hg(II). This effect serves as the basis for a new method for the rapid, fast and selective determination of trace Hg(II). The analytical range is from 0.50 μg L−1 to 150 μg L−1, and the limit of detection is 0.10 μg L−1. The influence of 11 metal ions commonly encountered in environmental water samples was found to be quite small. The method was applied to the determination of Hg(II) in spiked water samples and gave recoveries ranging from 98.5 to 105.2 % and with relative standard deviations of <3.5 % (n = 5). The total analysis time is <10 min for a single sample.

A high-sensitive SERS probe for the determination of Hg2+ using methimazole-functionalized cyclodextrin-protected AgNPs was designed. The limit of detection is 0.10 μg L−1.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National “Twelfth Five-Year” Plan for Science and Technology Support (No. 2012BAF14B08), Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (No. NECT-10-0443), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21075049 and 21105037) and Science and Technology Developing Foundation of Jilin Province (Nos. 20121808 and 20125006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Qianjin Street 2699, Changchun, 130012, People’s Republic of China

    Pinyi Ma, Qingqing Yang, Di Wang, Ying Sun, Xinghua Wang & Daqian Song

  2. Department of Pharmacy, Changchun Medical College, Jilin Street 6177, Changchun, 130031, People’s Republic of China

    Fanghui Liang

  3. Changchun Jilin University Little Swan Instruments Co., Ltd., Chuangxin Road 1203, Changchun, 130012, People’s Republic of China

    Dejiang Gao

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  1. Pinyi Ma
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  2. Fanghui Liang
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  3. Qingqing Yang
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  4. Di Wang
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  5. Ying Sun
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  6. Xinghua Wang
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  7. Dejiang Gao
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  8. Daqian Song
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Correspondence to Daqian Song.

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Ma, P., Liang, F., Yang, Q. et al. Highly sensitive SERS probe for mercury(II) using cyclodextrin-protected silver nanoparticles functionalized with methimazole. Microchim Acta 181, 975–981 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-014-1196-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-014-1196-7

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