New azo dyes for detection of metallic impurities

Abstract

In the world of molecular sensing, the ability to detect and differentiate between various analyte is a crucial aspect of scientific exploration. In this study, two novel azo dyes Dye-1 and Dye-2 that exhibit distinct sensing capabilities were synthesized and characterized. Dye-1 and Dye-2, each possess unique sensing capabilities. Dye-1 demonstrates an impressive affinity for the metal ion sensing and reveals differential colorimetric detection of metal ions based on the solvent system. Dye-2 on the other hand do not reveal significant color changes on addition of different metal ions, however it does reveal a selective and specific detection for dichromate (Cr2O72−) ions exclusively. The limit of detection (LOD) values obtained highlights the considerable sensitivity of Dye-1 and Dye-2 as a chemosensor. Finally, the utility of both the dyes for the detection of metallic impurities in real water samples has been demonstrated. The mechanism by which Dye-1 and Dye-2 binds to different metallic ions was also explored and studied through Density Functional Theory (DFT) computational modelling. This research contributes to the understanding of molecular sensing and offers potential applications in the field of analytical chemistry and environmental monitoring.