Nanogold-embedded poly (vinylidene fluoride) fibrous membrane for selective sensing of Hg (II) ion

We demonstrate here a mercury (II) ion (Hg2+) selective membrane developed by functionalizing Poly(vinyli-dene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibers with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). Au NPs were first synthesized and then embedded within PVDF nanofibers by electrospinning. The electrospun nanofibers were characterized struc-turally and morphologically whereby energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy confirms the incorporation of the Au NPs within the nanofibers. Current-voltage (I-V) response across the electrospun membrane in an elec-trochemical cell in a mixture of monovalent and divalent ionic species was recorded. The conductance values extracted from the I-V response showed efficient gating of the Hg2+ ions across the Au NPs embedded PVDF membrane. The evaluation of sensitivity and selectivity of the Au NPs embedded PVDF membrane depicted that it could detect concentrations up to 1 pM of Hg2+ ions in water.

Automated summary

In this study, a selective membrane for mercury (II) ion (Hg2+) was developed by functionalizing Poly(vinyli-dene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibers with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). The membrane showed efficient gating of Hg2+ ions and could detect concentrations as low as 1 pM in water.