A highly selective and sensitive fluorescent sensor for the rapid detection of Hg2 + based on phenylamine-oligothiophene derivative

• A fluorescent phenylamine-oligothiophene sensor for detection of Hg2 + was reported.
• The sensor showed a high selectivity and sensitivity for Hg2 + in aqueous solution.
• This sensor can rapidly detect Hg2 + ion on-line and in real time.

A fast-responsive fluorescent phenylamine-oligothiophene sensor 3TDDA was reported. This sensor exhibited highly selective and sensitive detection of Hg2 + ion in aqueous solution (THF/CH3CN/H2O, 45/50/5, v/v) through fluorescence quenching. The detection was not affected by the coexistence of other competitive metal ions such as Na+, K+, Ag+, Ca2 +, Fe3 +, Al3 +, Co2 +, Ni2 +, Zn2 +, Pb2 +, Cd2 +, Fe2 + and Cr3 +. A stoichiometric ratio (1:1) of the sensor and Hg2 + was determined by a Job's plot and mole-ratio curves. The binding of sensor 3TDDA and Hg2 + was also chemically reversible with EDTA. The detection limit was calculated as low as 4.392 × 10− 7 M.

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