The multistage amplifying effect: A novel approach to dramatically increase the sensitivity of chemodosimeter

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Vol. 226; pp. 211 - 217
• Main Authors: Ruan, Zhijun, Zong, Luyi, Song, Yuchen, Hu, Jie, Tu, Jin, Qin, Jingui, Li, Zhen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.04.2016
• Subjects: Chemodosimeter; Mercury Ions; Multistage amplifying effect; Relay strategy; Sensitivity; Sensitivity; Relay strategy; Mercury Ions; Multistage amplifying effect; Chemodosimeter
• ISSN: 0925-4005; 1873-3077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2015.11.087

•This sensor was designed according to a relay strategy with a multistage amplifying effect.•Immediate color change from colorless to red purple could be observed via naked-eye.•This sensor displayed high selectivity and sensitivity to Hg2+ ion.•The detection limit of this probe was as low as 1×10−6M by using as test strips.•The mechanism of the sensing process was clearly revealed. Through the multistage amplifying effect, a new Hg2+ chemodosimeter, 4-(2-(4-nitrobenzyl)-1,3-dithiolan-2-yl)-N,N-diphenylaniline, is designed according to a relay strategy, which combines the advantages of two simple reactions: the high selectivity of the Hg2+-promoted deprotection reaction and the obvious color change caused by ketone-enol isomerization. Once triggered by Hg2+, immediate color change from colorless to red purple can be observed in the solution of this chemodosimeter via naked-eye without any additional equipment, while other metal ions (Cr3+, Al3+, Fe3+, Co2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Fe2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Cd2+, Ba2+, Ca2+, Ni2+, Li+, Na+, K+ and Ag+) give no disturbance to the sensing process. Furthermore, the probe molecule can be easily fabricated as test strips, which can store for a long time with the detection limit as low as 1μM.