Dye-modified nanochannels of c-oriented AFI film for heavy metal ion sensing

Abstract

Porous materials with ordered one-dimensional channels are very attractive hosts for design, synthesis and application of various host–guest systems. To ensure the full utilization of these exceptional properties, the macroscopic ordering of the host materials is of crucial importance as well as the microscopic organization of the guests. In this work, we mainly focus on c-oriented AFI-type zeolite film, which is promising for its high degree of unity of macro and micro-ordering. This promising host can be used for diverse practical applications by selecting specific functional guests. We chose an azo dye (DPPA) as a guest to load into the AFI opened channels by postsynthetic insertion. Owing to their suitable molecular shape and size, the guest molecules are well confined in the channels. For the first time, this dye-loaded AFI film was designed to explore its utility as a sensor for detection of heavy metal ions. This method is quite simple and efficient especially for detection of zinc ions.