A Turn-On Fluorescent Sensor for Hg2+ Based on Graphene Oxide

Abstract

A graphene oxide- (GO-) boradiazaindacenes (BODIPY) charge-transfer complex (BGO) has been easily synthesized, and the structure of BGO was confirmed by FT-IR and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Moreover, the BGO was found that could be used as a turn-on fluorescent sensor for Hg2+. Upon addition of Hg2+, the fluorescence of BGO would be enhanced since the energy transfer between BODIPY and GO was inhibited. The selectivity and the competition performance of BGO towards Hg2+ were good among other heavy metal ions.