A multi-channel sensor based on 8-hydroxyquinoline ferrocenoate for probing Hg(II) ion

Captivating nano sensors for mercury detection: a promising approach for monitoring of toxic mercury in environmental samples

Mercury, a widespread highly toxic environmental pollutant, poses significant risks to both human health and ecosystems. It commonly infiltrates the food chain, particularly through fish, and water resources via multiple pathways, leading to adverse impacts on human health and the environment. To monitor and keep track of mercury ion levels various methods traditionally have been employed. However, conventional detection techniques are often hindered by limitations. In response to challenges, nano-sensors, capitalizing on the distinctive properties of nanomaterials, emerge as a promising solution. This comprehensive review provides insight into the extensive spectrum of nano-sensor development for mercury detection. It encompasses various types of nanomaterials such as silver, gold, silica, magnetic, quantum dot, carbon dot, and electrochemical variants, elucidating their sensing mechanisms and fabrication. The aim of this review is to offer an in-depth exploration to researchers, technologists, and the scientific community, and understanding of the evolving landscape in nano-sensor development for mercury sensing. Ultimately, this review aims to encourage innovation in the pursuit of efficient and reliable solutions for mercury detection, thereby contributing to advancements in environmental protection and public health.

Poly(3-amino-carbazole) derivatives containing 1,10-phenanthroline and 8-hydroxyquinoline ligands: Synthesis, properties and application as ion sensors

As we know, excessive metal ions can even damage human health. Herein, two novel kinds of fluorescent sensing materials Poly(3-amino-carbazole) derivatives containing 1,10-phenanthroline and 8-hydroxyquinoline were synthesized and further applied to fluorescence detection for ions. The results show that Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Pd²⁺ have excellent quenching effects on the fluorescence of Poly[9-(1,10-phenanthroline-2-yl)-9H-carbazol-3-amine] (PPNC), the LOD for these ions reaches 5.2 nM, 12.7 nM, 33.5 nM respectively. In the process of ion response, there is no shift of UV absorption peak, combined with IR spectra and theoretical calculation simulation, the quenching is considered to be caused by the coordination between metal ions and the second amine (-NH-) or 1,10-phenanthroline ligand of PPNC, which leads to the charge transfer from ligands to metal ions. In addition, an acid test was done for PPNC to verify and detect the presence of secondary amine (-NH-), and the results show that PPNC has good acid sensing ability which also supports the secondary amine (-NH-) structure. Finally, the paper test was performed on PPNC, indicating that PPNC has the potential for visual application.

Fluorescent chemosensors containing redox-active ferrocene: a review

The redox-active ferrocene containing two cyclopentadienyl rings and iron was extensively employed in the field of sensing, catalysis, medicine, biotechnology etc., due to the structural stability, solubility in common solvents and easy structural modification to make a wide variety of ferrocene derivatives. The ferrocene moiety can be linked suitably with fluoro-chromogenic units and applied for the multichannel (fluorescent, chromogenic and redox) sensing of various bioactive and toxic analytes. This review was narrated to compile some important ferrocene based fluorescent chemosensors developed for the detection of metal ions, anions and neutral analytes. The analytical novelty and sensing mechanisms of the summarized chemosensors are discussed to open new scopes for future research.

A novel near-infrared optical and redox-active receptor for the multi-model detection of Hg2+ in water and living cells

A key issue for constructing optical and redox-active receptors is how to conjugate a specific sensing kernel with a multi-signal-responsive system to carry out multi-feature analysis. Mercury is considered to be highly toxic to human health and ecological security. In this work, we present a novel near-infrared optical and redox-active receptor that can sense Hg²⁺ at ppb level in aqueous media via multi-model monitors with a low detection limit of 8.4 × 10^-9 M (1.68 ppb). This receptor features a visible detection, 'off-on' fluorescence response, and efficient electrochemistry assessment, as well as pH-insensitivity to Hg²⁺ with high sensitivity. In view of its marked near-infrared emission and fluorescence enhancement, we successfully applied this receptor to visualize Hg²⁺ in live cells. Furthermore, a possible sensing model was established and rationalized with theoretical studies.

A reaction-type receptor for the multi-feature detection of Hg2+ in water and living cells

The first optical and redox-active receptor of reaction-type has been developed for efficiently multi-model survey of Hg²⁺.

Metal-coordination driven intramolecular twisting: a turn-on fluorescent-redox probe for Hg2+ ions through the interaction of ferrocene nonbonding orbitals and dibenzylidenehydrazine

A unique C2 symmetric azine bridged bi-ferrocenyl receptor has been designed and synthesized for the selective detection of Hg²⁺ ion with a low detection limit as 15 nM via turn on fluorescence with a blue shift.

Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon dots for highly selective and sensitive detection of Hg (II) ions

Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon dots (N,S/C-dots) with high fluorescence quantum yields (FLQY, 25%) was successfully synthesized by a one-step microwave-assisted method. In comparison with nitrogen doped C-dots (N/C-dots) prepared using the same method, the resulting N,S/C-dots featured small particle size, uniform surface state, insensitive FL properties to excitation wavelengths and environmental conditions, negligible cytotoxicity and excellent biocompatibility. Simultaneous doping of N and S effectively promoted electron-transfer and coordination interaction between N,S/C-dots and Hg(2+). Thus, when used as fluorescence probe for Hg(2+) label-free detection, the resulting N,S/C-dots showed good detection sensitivity and ion selectivity. The limit of detection was 2 μM; among 15 metal ions investigated, only Fe(3+) showed interference to the Hg(2+) detection. Fortunately, this interference could be effectively shielded using a chelating agent sodium hexametaphoshpate. The applicability of N,S/C-dots as fluorescence probe for Hg(2+) detection in lake water and tap water was demonstrated. Finally, based on its favorable features of negligible cytotoxicity and excellent biocompatibility, the N,S/C-dots were successfully applied to probe Hg(2+) in living cells, which broaden its application in biological system.

Spectroscopic study of the recognition of 2-quinolinone derivative on mercury ion

A new compound based on 2-quinolinone derivative with very little side effects on organisms, 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-6,7-difluoroquinolin-2(1H)-one, has been designed, synthesized and characterized. And its recognition ability was firstly studied by spectroscopy. The result indicated that the compound shows high selectivity for Hg2+ over other metal ions with detectable fluorescent signals in aqueous-methanol media. The proposed mechanism is that the fluorescence of the probe was quenched due to the effect from spin-orbit coupling of Hg2+ after the probe coordinated with Hg2+, and was proved by ESI-MS and 1H NMR analysis.

WO₃/W nanopores sensor for chemical oxygen demand (COD) determination under visible light

A sensor of a WO₃ nanopores electrode combined with a thin layer reactor was proposed to develop a Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) determination method and solve the problem that the COD values are inaccurately determined by the standard method. The visible spectrum, e.g., 420 nm, could be used as light source in the sensor we developed, which represents a breakthrough by limiting of UV light source in the photoelectrocatalysis process. The operation conditions were optimized in this work, and the results showed that taking NaNO₃ solution at the concentration of 2.5 mol·L⁻¹ as electrolyte under the light intensity of 214 μW·cm⁻² and applied bias of 2.5 V, the proposed method is accurate and well reproducible, even in a wide range of pH values. Furthermore, the COD values obtained by the WO₃ sensor were fitted well with the theoretical COD value in the range of 3–60 mg·L⁻¹ with a limit value of 1 mg·L⁻¹, which reveals that the proposed sensor may be a practical device for monitoring and controlling surface water quality as well as slightly polluted water.

Theoretical investigations of the structures and electronic spectra of 8-hydroxylquinoline derivatives

The spectroscopic properties of 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives are theoretically investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) methods. The target molecules are divided into two groups: group (I): (E)-2-(2-(3,5-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)vinyl)quinolin-8-ol (A), together with corresponding potential reaction products of A with acetic acid, i.e., (E)-2-(2-(3,5-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)vinyl)quinolin-8-yl acetate (AR1), and (E)-2-(2-(3,5-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)vinyl)-8-hydroxyquinolinium (AR2); group (II): (E)-2-(2-(1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)vinyl)quinolin-8-ol (B), as well as potential reaction products of B with acetic acid, i.e., (E)-2-(2-(1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)vinyl)quinolin-8-yl acetate (BR1), and (E)-2-(2-(1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)vinyl)-8-hydroxyquinolinium (BR2). The geometries are optimized by B3LYP and M06 methods. The results indicate that product molecules tend to be effectively planar compared with reactants. Subsequently, UV absorption spectra are simulated through TD-DFT method with PCM model to further confirm the reasonable products of two reactions. AR2 and BR2 are identified as the target molecules through the experimental spectra for the real products. It is worth noting that the maximum absorption wavelengths of compounds AR2 and BR2 present prominent red shift compared the initial reactants A and B, respectively, which should be ascribed to the enhancive planarity of products that mentioned above and the decreased HOMO-LUMO energy gap. Geometric structures and optical properties for corresponding compounds are discussed in detail.

A new Schiff base fluorescent probe for imaging Cu2+ in living cells

A novel probe based on ferrocenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-containing Schiff base was synthesized by the reaction of 5-ferrocenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amine and 4-(diethylamino)salicylaldehyde, and characterized by IR, NMR, HRMS and X-ray analysis. UV-vis spectral and fluorescence property of the probe were investigated. The probe can be used to colorimetric sensitive and selective fluorescent recognition of Cu(2+) in buffer solution. Moreover, the probe can detect Cu(2+) by electrochemical method. Additionally, the Schiff base was successfully used as a selective and sensitive fluorescent probe for monitoring Cu(2+) ions in living cells.

Synthesis of photoluminescent Au ND-PNIPAM hybrid microgel for the detection of Hg2+

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgels (PNIPAM MGs) incorporated with photoluminescent gold nanodots (Au NDs) have been prepared and employed for the detection of mercury ions (Hg(2+)). Each of the PNIPAM MGs (hydrodynamic diameter 615 ± 15 nm) contains several Au NDs (diameter 1.8 ± 0.2 nm) in the Au ND-PNIPAM MGs. Like Au NDs, Au ND-PNIPAM MGs exhibit an absorption band at 375 nm that is assigned for ligand to metal charge transfer mixed with metal centered (ds/dp) states and photoluminescence at 520 nm originated from Au ND/polynuclear gold(I)-thiolate (core/shell) complexes. Purification of Au ND-PNIPAM MGs relative to Au NDs is much easier through a simple centrifugation/wash process. On the basis of Hg(2+)-induced photoluminescence quenching due to the formation of Au-Hg amalgam and formation of Au ND-PNIPAM MGs aggregates, the signal response of Au ND-PNIPAM MGs against Hg(2+) concentration is linear over a range from 2 to 20 nM (r = 0.9945). This selective approach provides limits of detection for Hg(2+) (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3) of 1.9 and 1.7 nM in phosphate buffer solutions (5 mM, pH 7.0) with and without containing 500 mM NaCl, respectively. This selective and sensitive Au ND-PNIPAM MG probe has been applied to the determination of the concentration of Hg in a representative fish sample, showing its practical potential for monitoring of Hg levels in complicated biological and environmental samples.