Selective interaction between phytomediated anionic silver nanoparticles and mercury leading to amalgam formation enables highly sensitive, colorimetric and memristor-based detection of mercury

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 2037
• Main Authors: Sangaonkar, Geetanjali M., Desai, Megha P., Dongale, Tukaram D., Pawar, Kiran D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 06.02.2020; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/61; 639/301; 639/925; 704/172; Colorimetry; Etching; Frequency dependence; Humanities and Social Sciences; Mercury; multidisciplinary; Nanoparticles; Pollutants; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Silver
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58844-4

Presently, nanotechnology is being foreseen to play an important role in developing analytical assays for the detection of pollutants like mercury (Hg 2+ ). In this study, Kokum fruit mediated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were differentially centrifuged to prepare anionic, monodispersed AgNPs to develop a highly sensitive, colorimetric and memristor-based assay for detection of Hg 2+ in water samples. The investigation of the highly selective reaction between AgNPs and Hg 2+ using HAADF-STEM images and EDS spectrum indicated the amalgam formation through etching and under potential deposition which resulted in a visible color change from brown to colorless, change in SPR intensity and also change in memristive switching like property of AgNPs. The developed colorimetric assay detected Hg 2+ with a limit of detection (LOD) of 6.2 ppb and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 18.9 ppb and, quantitatively recovered Hg 2+ with good accuracy and precision (RSD < 2%). Further, the test of memristive switching like property of AgNPs demonstrated frequency-dependent shrinkage of I–V hysteresis loop indicating memristive switching like property. The test of the sensitivity of Hg 2+ detection was estimated to be 8.7 ppb as the LOD and 26.4 ppb as LOQ. Like the colorimetric assay, the memristor-based assay also recovered Hg 2+ with good accuracy and precision.