Magnetoplasmonic photonic arrays for rapid and selective colorimetric detection of chloride ions in water

Abstract

The rapid and efficient detection of chloride (Cl⁻) ions is crucial in a variety of fields, making the development of advanced sensing methods such as colorimetric sensors an imperative advancement in analytical chemistry. Herein, a novel, selective, and straightforward paper-based colorimetric sensing platform has been developed utilizing an amorphous photonic array (APA) of magnetoplasmonic Ag@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (MagPlas NPs) for the detection of Cl⁻ in water. Taking advantage of the highly responsive APA, the key principle of this sensing method is based on the chemical reaction between Ag⁺ and Cl⁻, which results in the precipitation of high-refractive index (RI) AgCl. This assay, distinct from typical plasmonic sensors that rely heavily on nanoparticle aggregation/anti-aggregation, is premised on the precipitation reaction of Ag⁺ and Cl⁻. In the presence of Cl⁻, a rapid, distinctive color alteration from royal purple to a dark sky blue is visually observable within a short time of a few minutes, eliminating the necessity for any surface modification procedures. Comprehensive assessments substantiated that these sensors display commendable sensitivity, selectivity, and stability, thereby establishing their effective applicability for Cl⁻ analysis in various technological fields.