Green synthesis of sucralose-capped silver nanoparticles for fast colorimetric triethylamine detection

In this study, a fast colorimetric triethylamine sensor based on localized surface plasmon resonance of silver nanoparticles is presented. The nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reduction from silver nitrate using glucose as reducing agent and sucralose as capping agent. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and zeta-potential measurements. Their average size was between 4 and 10 nm. The suspension of sucralose-capped silver nanoparticles exhibited high stability and very interesting sensor capabilities for a facile and very fast revealing of the presence of triethylamine. It was found that the injection of triethylamine into silver nanoparticles colloidal solution induced immediate enhancement of the yield of the synthesized nanoparticles and their self-aggregation, depending on the concentration of triethylamine and on the reaction time. This fact resulted in naked-eye color change from pale yellow to dark yellow, orange, greenish orange and gray. This simple and quick determination of the presence of triethylamine has possibilities for applying to environmental applications.