A “light-on” colorimetric assay for anion detection using the inhibitory effect of anions on the catalytic activity of metal nanoparticles for the degradation of methyl orange

Abstract

In this communication, we studied the inhibitory effects of anions on the catalytic activity of metal nanoparticles for the degradation of methyl orange (MO). Some anions have great affinity with specific metal nanoparticles, thus resulting in the change of surface state and inhibition of catalytic activity, which can be observed with the naked eye or manifested in the UV spectrum of MO for anion detection.