A highly selective and non-reaction based chemosensor for the detection of Hg2+ ions using a luminescent iridium(III) complex

PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e60114. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060114. Epub 2013 Mar 22.

Abstract

We report herein a novel luminescent iridium(III) complex with two hydrophobic carbon chains as a non-reaction based chemosensor for the detection of Hg(2+) ions in aqueous solution (<0.002% of organic solvent attributed to the probe solution). Upon the addition of Hg(2+) ions, the emission intensity of the complex was significantly enhanced and this change could be monitored by the naked eye under UV irradiation. The iridium(III) complex shows high specificity for Hg(2+) ions over eighteen other cations. The system is capable of detecting micromolar levels of Hg(2+) ions, which is within the range of many chemical systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Iridium / chemistry*
  • Luminescence*
  • Mercury / chemistry*
  • Ultraviolet Rays

Substances

  • Iridium
  • Mercury

Grants and funding

This work is supported by Hong Kong Baptist University (FRG2/11-12/009), Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF Project 3/2010), Centre for Cancer and Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine (CCIR-SCM, HKBU), the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF/11101212), the Research Grants Council (HKBU/201811 and HKBU/204612), the Science and Technology Development Fund, Macao SAR (001/2012/A) and the University of Macau (SRG013-ICMS12-LCH, MYRG091(Y1-L2)-ICMS12-LCH and MYRG121(Y1-L2)-ICMS12-LCH). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.