Analytical Sciences


Abstract − Analytical Sciences, 31(12), 1285 (2015).

A Selective, Colorimetric and Ratiometric Chemosensor for Hg2+ and Its Application as Test Papers
Hongwei ZHOU, Wei TIAN, Min JIANG, Peng LI, Shihao ZENG, Weixing CHEN, and Aijie MA
School of Material and Chemical Engineering, Xi’an Technological University, Xi’an 710021, P. R. China
Chemosensors provide an efficient and low-cost approach to the detection of various metal ions and small molecules. In the present work, we present a detailed investigation of a simple, easily-prepared, yet efficient, coumarin-based sensor for Hg2+. The sensor is based on a fluorescent group of coumarin. When exposed to Hg2+, the sensor solution shows a significant color change from yellow to red, and a fluorescence change from green to orange. Further study revealed that the sensor responds solely to Hg2+, and shows excellent selectivity even in the presence of other potential competition metal ions, including Na+, K+, Co2+, Fe2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Ag+, Zn2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Pb2+, Fe3+. Furthermore, the sensor has been successfully applied to detect Hg2+ in a form of test paper, which may promote easy and effective application of the sensor.