Mercury(II) sensors based on calix[4]arene derivatives as receptor molecules

Mercury(II) sensors prepared by incorporating three different calix[4]arene derivatives as neutral receptor molecules showed near-Nernstian slopes within wide linear concentration ranges and low detection limits of order similar to 10(-6) M. The sensors were found to work well in the pH range of similar to 1.0-4.0 with response time of less than 20 s and showed reproducible and stable potentiometric signals. The selectivity coefficient values showed better sensitivity and selectivity of these sensors for mercury(II) ions over various mono-, di, trivalent cations studied. The sensors were also applied as indicator electrodes in the potentiometric titrations and successfully used to determine mercury(H) ions in synthetic samples. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.