Naphthalimide based hybrid nanoparticles for selective recognition of Hg(II)

Abstract

1,8-Naphthalic anhydride and cystamine dihydrochloride have been used as precursors for the synthesis of a dipodal compound (1) which has been further processed into fluorescent organic nanoparticles (N1) by re-precipitation technique. This has resulted in the formation of spherical nanoparticles which have been characterized by TEM and DLS studies. These hybrid nanomaterials composed of organic and inorganic nanoparticles have been used as a sensing platform for determination of mercury(II). The sensing phenomenon shows a ratiometric response for the selective determination with Hg²⁺ ion among other heavy metal ions with enhancement in fluorescence emission at 340 nm and decrease in emission intensity at 469 nm. Other heavy metal show no interference towards recognition of Hg²⁺ ion.