| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72658 | Microporous and Mesoporous Materials | 2015 | 7 Pages |
•N-propylaniline functionalized SBA-15 type material MFMS has been synthesized using co-condensation method.•Chemical environment, bonding, porosity and fluorescence property of MFMS have been analyzed.•MFMS showed highly sensitive fluorescent sensing for detection of Hg2+ in nanomolar concentrations.•MFMS showed high selectivity for Hg2+ among various other main group and transition metal ions.
N-propylaniline functionalized 2D-hexagonal mesoporous SBA-15 material MFMS (monolayer N-propylaniline functionalized mesoporous SBA-15 type material) has been synthesized, where N-propylaniline group covalently grafted at the mesopore surface acts as a chromophoric fraction of the material for the sensing of metal ions from solutions. Powder XRD, HR TEM, FT IR, TGA, 13C/29Si solid state MAS-NMR, N2 sorption tools are employed to characterize the mesophase, framework-bonding and the surface properties of the material. Photoluminescence spectroscopy has been used to investigate the sensing behavior of this material towards various metal ions. This functionalized mesoporous material showed very high selectivity for sensing Hg2+ ions from its aqueous solution. With increasing concentration of Hg2+ ions from nanomolar to micromolar strength, strong fluorescence quenching is observed (upto 95.04%), while other main group and transition metal ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+) caused insignificant change in the fluorescent intensity of the material, suggesting future potential of MFMS as a highly selective Hg(II)-sensor.
Graphical abstractWe report the aniline functionalized 2D-hexagonal mesoporous material, which showed very high selectivity for sensing Hg2+ aqueous solution in nanomolar to micromolar strength. Strong fluorescence quenching is observed for Hg2+, whereas other metal ions (Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+ etc.) caused insignificant change in the fluorescent intensity, suggesting future potential of MFMS as highly selective Hg(II)-sensor.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide
