A highly selective and sensitive fluorescent sensor for the rapid detection of Hg2 + based on phenylamine-oligothiophene derivative

Abstract

A fast-responsive fluorescent phenylamine-oligothiophene sensor 3TDDA was reported. This sensor exhibited highly selective and sensitive detection of Hg2+ ion in aqueous solution (THF/CH3CN/H2O, 45/50/5, v/v) through fluorescence quenching. The detection was not affected by the coexistence of other competitive metal ions such as Na+, K+, Ag+, Ca2+, Fe3+, Al3+, Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, Fe2+ and Cr3+. A stoichiometric ratio (1:1) of the sensor and Hg2+ was determined by a Job's plot and mole-ratio curves. The binding of sensor 3TDDA and Hg2+ was also chemically reversible with EDTA. The detection limit was calculated as low as 4.392×10−7M.