Colorimetric detection of mercury(II) in aqueous media with high selectivity using calixarene functionalized gold nanoparticles

- Water soluble calixarene functionalized gold nanoparticles as sensor for metal ion has been synthesised.
- This material exhibits high selectivity towards Hg(II) in aqueous media.
- The interaction with metal ion results in sharp colour change, detectable by naked-eyes.
- The colour change is due to assembly of gold nanoparticles into arrays through the bare surfaces by dipole-dipole interaction.
- This new material is successfully tested for detection of Hg2+ in drinking water as real sample.