A simple strategy to fabricate a fluorescent SiO2@zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) core-shell nanosensor for Cu(2+) detection was demonstrated in this work. The nanosensor was synthesized using carboxyl-functionalized SiO2 nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) as a template to induce the growth of ZIF-8 on its surface. The porous SiO2@ZIF-8 exhibited extremely good adsorption properties and a large specific surface area to accumulate Cu(2+), and the pyridyl nitrogen sites in imidazole played vital roles in the recognition of Cu(2+). The fluorescent intensity decreased linearly with the increasing of Cu(2+) concentration in the range of 10-500 nM and the detection limit was estimated to be 3.8 nM. The SiO2@ZIF-8 nanosensor could be further used to determine trace amounts of Cu(2+) in real water samples, while some previous sensors had to be dispersed in organic solution for use, such as DMSO and MeCN. The core-shell nanostructures of SiO2@ZIF-8 made it possible for it to be dispersed directly in aqueous solution and prevented ZIF-8 from aggregation, which enhanced the sensing performance of the SiO2@ZIF-8 nanosensor.
An easy and effective strategy for synthesizing a ratiometric fluorescent nanosensor has been demonstrated in this work. Novel fluorescent BSA-AuNPs@Tb-AMP (BSA, bovine serum albumin; AMP, adenosine 5'-monophosphate; AuNPs, Au nanoparticles) metal-organic framework (MOF) nanostructures were synthesized by encapsulating BSA-AuNPs into Tb-AMP MOFs for the detection of 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (DPA) and Hg . DPA could strongly co-ordinate with Tb to replace water molecules from the Tb center and accordingly enhanced the fluorescence of Tb-AMP MOFs. The fluorescence of BSA-AuNPs at 405 nm remained constant. While the fluorescence of BSA-AuNPs at 635 nm was quenched after Hg was added, the fluorescence of Tb-AMP MOFs remained constant. Accordingly, a ratiometric fluorescence nanosensor was constructed for detection of DPA and Hg . The ratiometric nanosensor exhibited good selectivity to DPA over other substances. The F /F linearly increased with increase of DPA concentration in the range of 50 nM to 10 μM with a detection limit as low as 17.4 nM. F /F increased linearly with increase of Hg concentration ranging from 50 nM to 1 μM with a detection limit as low as 20.9 nM. Additionally, the nanosensor could be successfully applied for the determination of DPA and Hg in running water.
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