Issue 34, 2024

An excimer process induced a turn-on fluorescent probe for detection of ultra-low concentration of mercury ions

Abstract

The accumulation of mercury pollution in plants can induce severe injury to human beings. It is a great challenge to monitor ultra-low concentrations of mercury in complicated matrixes. In this study, we successfully developed a strategy via Hg2+-triggered naphthalene-based fluorescent probe 1, which formed excimer that subsequently emitted fluorescence for the successful detection of ultra-low concentrations of Hg2+. The coordination of N and S atoms with Hg2+ facilitated the formation of excimer from the naphthalene-conjugated planes that were in sufficiently close proximity. Suppression of C[double bond, length as m-dash]N bond rotation also induced the chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) effect, and the cumulative result of these effects was obvious fluorescent enhancement. Compared with probe 2, the other key factor for detection of Hg2+ is that the electrons of the hydroxyl group can easily transfer to a naphthalene moiety, resulting in an augmented π-electron density that enhanced the π–π stacking of the naphthalene-conjugated excimer. After detailed spectral studies and mechanism discussions, it was realized that probe 1 was able to detect ultra-low concentrations of Hg2+ in PBS buffer solution. The detection limit was calculated to be 1.98 nM. On account of the excellent performances, the probe was successfully applied in monitoring Hg2+ in water and pea sprouts with the potential for application as an advanced warning of contamination.

Graphical abstract: An excimer process induced a turn-on fluorescent probe for detection of ultra-low concentration of mercury ions

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
30 4 2024
Accepted
20 7 2024
First published
24 7 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024,12, 8376-8382

An excimer process induced a turn-on fluorescent probe for detection of ultra-low concentration of mercury ions

S. Fang, K. M. K. Swamy, W. Zan, J. Yoon and S. Liu, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024, 12, 8376 DOI: 10.1039/D4TB00934G

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