Formation of plasmonic core/shell nanorods through ammonia-mediated dissolution of silver(i)oxide for ammonia monitoring

Abstract

Due to the expansion of the aquaculture industry in the world and the importance of controlling ammonia in fish breeding water, high levels of which impose significant damage to fish farming, it is crucial to develop affordable, rapid, and on-site methods for timely and accurate detection of ammonia. In this study, a colorimetric sensor based on the formation of gold/silver core/shell nanorods (NRs) was developed for the rapid detection of ammonia. The sensor functioned by the specific dissolution of silver(I) oxide by ammonia, which triggered the activation of silver ions and the subsequent formation of gold/silver core/shell NRs in the presence of a reducing agent (i.e., ascorbic acid (AA)). This led to changes in the surface composition, size, and aspect ratio of the NRs, which was accompanied by a vivid color change from green to red/orange in less than a minute. The colorimetric sensor was optimized by adjusting the effective parameters, including ascorbic acid, silver ion, and sodium hydroxide concentration as well as pH and reaction time. After the optimization process, the sensor was found to have a linear range from 50 to 800 μmol L⁻¹ (0.85–13.6 ppm). In addition, the application of the sensor was validated by measuring the ammonia content in water samples from rearing ponds for rainbow trout, sturgeon, and tilapia before and after feeding. The sensor's label-free, rapid, user-friendly, naked-eye, and cost-effective operation makes it an attractive option for on-site environmental monitoring of ammonia.