Highly selective and sensitive magnetic silica nanoparticles based fluorescent sensor for detection of Zn ions

In this work, quinoline group modified multifunctional silica nanoparticles having high magnetization and excellent Zn²⁺ selectivity have been successfully prepared. These multifunctional nanoparticles were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The characterization data indicated that the organic ligand was successfully grafted on the surface of the magnetic silica nanoparticles. The fluorescent properties of the nanosensor were characterized and employed to detect Zn²⁺ with excellent selectivity and sensitivity (0.1 μM) toward Zn²⁺ over other cations even in trace amount.