AgNPs Functionalized with Dithizone for the Detection of Hg2+ Based on Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering Spectroscopy

• Published in: Plasmonics (Norwell, Mass.) Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 1419 - 1426
• Main Authors: Guo, Na, Xu, Guangda, Zhang, Qijia, Song, Peng, Xia, Lixin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.08.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biochemistry; Biological and Medical Physics; Biophysics; Biotechnology; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Heavy metals; Mercury (metal); Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Peripheral nervous system; Raman spectra; Silver; Water damage; Water sampling; Dithizone; SERS; Water analysis; Hg; Sensor
• DOI: 10.1007/s11468-022-01626-7
• ISSN: 1557-1955

Mercuric ion (Hg 2+ ), a poisonous metal ion that remained in water ecosystems, can severely damage the human central and peripheral nervous system and kidneys. Consequently, rapid and highly sensitive methods to determine trace Hg 2+ are meaningful to discuss. In recent years, methods for detecting heavy metals by complexation reactions have emerged one after another. We have proposed a novel approach of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for the quantitative analysis of Hg 2+ in water samples using dithizone (DTZ) as a Raman reporter. DTZ-modified silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) produced a strong SERS signal. In the presence of Hg 2+ , the DTZ can capture Hg 2+ composing a stable structure, resulting in DTZ leaving the surface of the AgNPs, with an accompanying decrease in the signal. The proposed SERS assay showed a linear range of 10 –4 –10 –8  M, with a limit of detection of 9.83 × 10 –9  M. The sensor has low detection cost, rapid detection speed, and uncomplicated sample pretreatment. Furthermore, this method can be successfully utilized to detect Hg 2+ rapidly in water samples, which sheds new light on the detection of Hg 2+ in the environment.