A highly selective and sensitive fluorescent sensor for the rapid detection of Hg2 + based on phenylamine-oligothiophene derivative.

A fast-responsive fluorescent phenylamine-oligothiophene sensor 3TDDA was reported. This sensor exhibited highly selective and sensitive detection of Hg 2 + ion in aqueous solution (THF/CH 3 CN/H 2 O, 45/50/5, v/v) through fluorescence quenching. The detection was not affected by the coexistence of other competitive metal ions such as Na + , K + , Ag + , Ca 2 + , Fe 3 + , Al 3 + , Co 2 + , Ni 2 + , Zn 2 + , Pb 2 + , Cd 2 + , Fe 2 + and Cr 3 + . A stoichiometric ratio (1:1) of the sensor and Hg 2 + was determined by a Job's plot and mole-ratio curves. The binding of sensor 3TDDA and Hg 2 + was also chemically reversible with EDTA. The detection limit was calculated as low as 4.392 × 10 − 7 M. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]