Highly selective, sensitive and fast-responsive fluorescent sensor for Hg2 +.

A phenylamine-oligothiophene-based fluorescent sensor 2TBEA was reported. This sensor exhibited highly selective, sensitive and rapid detection of Hg 2 + ion in THF/H 2 O (7/3, v/v) solution through fluorescence quenching. The detection was unaffected by the coexistence of other competitive metal cations including Na + , K + , Ag + , Ca 2 + , Fe 3 + , Al 3 + , Co 2 + , Cu 2 + , Ni 2 + , Zn 2 + , Pb 2 + , Cd 2 + , Fe 2 + and Cr 3 + . A1:1 binding ratio for 2TBEA — Hg 2 + was demonstrated by Job's plot and mole-ratio curves. The coordination process was chemically reversible with EDTA. The detection limit was evaluated to be as low as 6.164 × 10 − 8 M. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]