A quinoline group modified Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles for sequential detection of Zn2+ and hydrogen sulfide in aqueous solution and its logic behavior

A highly selective and sensitive method for recognition of Zn2+ and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in aqueous solution has been developed by using a quinoline fluorescent sensor functionalized magnetic silica nanoparticles (R1). The chemosensor R1 shows excellent fluorescence sensitivity and selectivity toward Zn2+ and H2S in aqueous media, and displays off-on-off type fluorescence change with alternately adding Zn2+ and H2S to the media along with reversible association-dissociation of the complex. Furthermore, the magnetic nanocomposites can be easily separated from solutions by adding an external magnetic field. Finally, using Zn2+ and H2S as inputs and the fluorescence intensity as output, an INHIBIT logic gate can be constructed at the nanoscale level. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.