Black Phosphorus Quantum Dots as the Ratiometric Fluorescence Probe for Trace Mercury Ion Detection Based on Inner Filter Effect

Abstract

In this work, a novel ratiometric fluorescence sensor has been constructed for the selective and sensitive detection of Hg²⁺, which is based on the inner filter effect (IFE) of tetraphenylporphyrin tetrasulfonic acid (TPPS) toward black phosphorus quantum dots (BP QDs). Highly fluorescent BP QDs were successfully synthesized from bulk BP by sonication-assisted solvothermal method via a top-down route. In the presence of Hg²⁺, the IFE originating from spectral overlap between the excitation of BP QDs and the absorption of TPPS is inhibited and the fluorescence of BP QDs is restored. At the same time, the red fluorescence of TPPS is quenched due to its coordination with Mn²⁺. These phenomena result from the rapid coordination between Mn²⁺ and TPPS in the presence of Hg²⁺, which leads to the dramatic decrease of the absorption of TPPS. On the basis of these findings, we design a ratiometric fluorescence sensor for the detection of Hg²⁺. The as-constructed sensor reveals a good linear response to Hg²⁺ ranging from 1 to 60 nM with a detection limit of 0.39 nM. Furthermore, the sensing assay is applicable to detecting Hg²⁺ in real samples.