Abstract
To improve the accuracy and specificity of visual sensors for detecting Cu(II) and Hg(II), a fluorescent and colorimetric dual-modal sensor based on Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) prepared by using carbon dots (CDs) was designed. If a sensor is to be applied for the detection of targets in different environmental backgrounds, it needs to have high stability against heat, pH, and salt. To this end, CD-wrapped AuNP probes were fabricated by the in situ reaction of chloroauric acid and reductive CDs. The reductive CDs were prepared with hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (HPEI) as a carbon source. HPEI-CDs not only acted as a reducing agent but also as an excellent stabilizer in the preparation and detection application of the AuNPs. Based on multiple signal responses, including color, UV-Vis absorption, and fluorescence intensity, the HPEI-CD/AuNP nanosensor was used to realize the detection of Cu2+ and Hg2+ in the linear range 9.0×10−10–9.0×10−4 M and 9.0×10−7–9.0×10−5 M with low detection limits of 75.6 nM and 281 nM, respectively. In tap water analysis, the recovery of Cu2+ and Hg2+ by fluorescent range from 109.98–113.31% and 100.65–100.81%, and the RSD values were 0.1159–1.6317% and 3.2–5.4%, respectively. The recovery of Cu2+ and Hg2+ by colorimetric detection were 99.72–100.14% and 99.88–100.12%, and RSD values were 0.6527–0.6842% and 0.4400–0.8386%, respectively. Importantly, this sensor was applied to the accurate and sensitive detection of Cu2+ and Hg2+ in tap water and sea water. The multimode readout nanosensor exhibited strong potential for achieving simultaneous detection of two different heavy metal ions in practical applications.
Graphical abstract
The novel multi-mode readout carbon dots/AuNPs sensor for Cu2+ and Hg2+ detectionshowed high sensitivity and selectivity.
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Funding
This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52073134), the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2019BB026, ZR2019MEM026) and the Yantai Key R&D Program (2017ZH058, 2020XDRH098).
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Li, Y., Tang, L., Zhu, C. et al. Fluorescent and colorimetric assay for determination of Cu(II) and Hg(II) using AuNPs reduced and wrapped by carbon dots. Microchim Acta 189, 10 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-021-05111-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-021-05111-6