Highly sensitive and selective cartap nanosensor based on luminescence resonance energy transfer between NaYF4:Yb,Ho nanocrystals and gold nanoparticles

Fluorescent detection is an attractive method for the detection of toxic chemicals. However, most chemosensors that are currently utilized in fluorescent detection are based on organic dyes or quantum dots, which suffer from instability, high background noise and interference from organic impurities in solution, which can also be excited by UV radiation. In the present research, we developed a novel NaYF4:Yb,Ho/Au nanocomposite-based chemosensor with high sensitivity (10 ppb) and selectivity over competing analytes for the detection of the insecticide cat-tap. This nanosensor is excited with a 970-nm laser instead of UV radiation to give an emission peak at 541 nm. In the presence of cat-tap, the nanocomposites aggregate, resulting in enhanced luminescence resonance energy transfer between the NaYF4:Yb,Ho nanocrystals and the gold nanoparticles, which decreases the emission intensity at 541 nm. The relative luminescence intensity at 541 nm has a linear relationship with the concentration of cartap in the solution. Based on this behavior, the developed nanosensor successfully detected cartap in farm produce and water samples with satisfactory results. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.