Nanocomposite as Visible Sensing Platform for Hg

TLDR: In this paper, a novel visual sensing platform for the detection of mercury (II) ion (Hg2+) was developed by using a graphene quantum dots functionalized gold nanoparticles nanocomposite system.

Abstract: Owing to their detection performance without the use of any instruments, visual sensing based on gold nanoparticles has become important and attractive for a wide range of applications in various fields, especially in sensing systems. In this study, a novel visual sensing platform for the detection of mercury (II) ion (Hg2+) was developed by using a graphene quantum dots functionalized gold nanoparticles nanocomposite system. To achieve the goal of selective, sensitive, and rapid sensing of Hg2+, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were combined with graphene quantum dots (GQDs). GQDs was assembled on AuNPs due to the strong interaction with the terminal amino groups of GQDs. A new procedure for the selective and sensitive detection of Hg2+ has been unveiled based on the prevention of aggregation of AuNPs functionalized with GQDs in the presence of analytes (i.e. Hg2+).