Ferrocenyl-functionalized organic-inorganic hybrid silica: A New kind of anion chemsensor toward flouride anion

•A new kind of ferrocenyl-based hybrid materials has been successfully prepared.•The selective anion sensing property of the hybrid silica was studied by Uv and CV.•Hybrid network formation as well as fluoride sensing mechanism is proposed.•The morphology of the hybrids could be tuned by pH and the content of TEOS.

A new kind of ferrocenyl based chemosensor toward anions covalently bonded to silica have been successfully prepared by co-condensation of the modified Fc-Urea-Si 5 and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The hybrid material was characterized by IR, 1HNMR, SEM, and XRD experiments. And the selective anion sensing property of the hybrid material was studied by Uv–vis and CV. The morphology of the hybrids could be tuned by pH and the content of TEOS. The hybrid networks were able to donate –NH units for selectively sensing fluoride anion with optical and electrochemical changes, accompanied by color and electrochemical changes. Hybrid network formation as well as fluoride sensing mechanism is proposed. Such nanostructure based hybrids would have potential applications in biological systems.

Graphical abstractThe ferrocenyl based hybrid networks were able to donate –NH units for selectively sensing fluoride anion with optical and electrochemical changes, accompanied by color and electrochemical changes.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide