Core-shell structured mesoporous silica nanoparticles equipped with pyrene-based chemosensor: Synthesis, characterization, and sensing activity towards Hg(II)

In this paper, we construct core-shell structured mesoporous silica nanoparticles with spherical SiO2 as the core and mesoporous silica as the shell, offering both large surface-area-to-volume-ratio and short channels. With this core-shell structured mesoporous silica nanoparticles as supporting medium, a chemosensor of pyrene, owing advantages of large Stokes shift, high quantum yield and excellent photostability, is grafted into the channels of the nanoparticles, aiming at a Hg(II) detector with quick response and high selectivity. The sensing performance of the resulting composite material is investigated in detail. Data suggest that the composite material is thermally stable enough for actual applications and highly selective towards Hg(II), and a linear response with detection limit of 10−8 mol/L is finally realized, which means that it is a promising biochemo-sensing material for Hg(II) detection.

► Core-shell structured silica nanoparticles with chemosensor are synthesized. ► Composite material is thermally stable and sensitive towards Hg(II). ► Emission intensity increases with increasing Hg(II) concentration. ► A linear response with detection limit of 10−8 mol/L is realized.