Selective interaction between phytomediated anionic silver nanoparticles and mercury leading to amalgam formation enables highly sensitive, colorimetric and memristor-based detection of mercury

Presently, nanotechnology is being foreseen to play an important role in developing analytical assays for the detection of pollutants like mercury (Hg(2+)). In this study, Kokum fruit mediated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were differentially centrifuged to prepare anionic, monodispersed AgNPs to develop a highly sensitive, colorimetric and memristor-based assay for detection of Hg(2+) in water samples. The investigation of the highly selective reaction between AgNPs and Hg(2+) using HAADF-STEM images and EDS spectrum indicated the amalgam formation through etching and under potential deposition which resulted in a visible color change from brown to colorless, change in SPR intensity and also change in memristive switching like property of AgNPs. The developed colorimetric assay detected Hg(2+) with a limit of detection (LOD) of 6.2 ppb and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 18.9 ppb and, quantitatively recovered Hg(2+) with good accuracy and precision (RSD < 2%). Further, the test of memristive switching like property of AgNPs demonstrated frequency-dependent shrinkage of I–V hysteresis loop indicating memristive switching like property. The test of the sensitivity of Hg(2+) detection was estimated to be 8.7 ppb as the LOD and 26.4 ppb as LOQ. Like the colorimetric assay, the memristor-based assay also recovered Hg(2+) with good accuracy and precision.