Paper test strip for silver ions detection in drinking water samples based on combined fluorometric and colorimetric methods
Xiaoyu Fan, Jiapei Lv, Rui Li, Yafei Chen, Shuai Zhang, Tao Liu, Shuxing Zhou, Xiaodong Shao, Shuhao Wang, Guangzhi Hu, Qiaoli Yue
Abstract
In this study, a portable silver ion (Ag+) sensor was fabricated based on a dual signal output system using black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) as probes. It is the first work for Ag+ detection using paper test strip based on BPQDs. The color change of BPQDs paper sensor for the determination of Ag+ was easily identified by naked eye. BPQDs were synthesized from bulk black phosphorus (BP) by mechanical exfoliation combined with a solvothermal method. BPQDs exhibited blue fluorescence with a quantum yield of 8.82 %. The fluorescence of BPQDs can be quenched by Ag+, and the absorbance of BPQDs is increased with increasing Ag+ concentration. The mechanism of the interaction between BPQDs and Ag+ involving fluorescence quenching and bonding was investigated by experimental and computational methods. The detection limit of Ag+ was 1.56 μg/mL and 0.19 μg/mL using fluorometry and colorimetry methods, respectively. A portable visual sensor based on paper test strip was constructed for Ag+ detection using the colorimetric approach. The strategy was employed to determine Ag+ successfully in drinking water samples. Therefore, the proposed portable Ag+ sensor can be potentially utilized for the lab-free analysis of drinking water and even dietary samples.