Abstract
We describe the creation of a solid-state optical sensor that is quick to respond, sensitive, and reliable for detecting and determining Cu(II) ions in both natural and wastewater sources. The solid-state template was prepared with mesoporous silica nanospheres of capacious porosity, high surface area, and uniform surface morphology. N,N'-bis(3-carboxysalcylidene)-4-chloro-1,2-phenylenediamine (CSCPD), a chromoionophoric probe with exclusive ion-selectivity and sensitivity for Cu(II), is created for use in naked-eye colorimetric detection. The mesoporous silica nanospheres (MSNs) template displayed several diffusible sites for the uniform anchoring of the CSCPD probe molecules, which serve as a colorimetric ion sensor for the naked eye. The surface profile and structure of the MSNs and the CSCPD sensor materials are studied using BET/BJH, XPS, FESEM, p-XRD, and HR-TEM analysis. With various concentrations of Cu(II), the CSCPD probe-anchored MSNs material reciprocates a vivid visual colour shift from an initial pale yellow colour to green with a reaction period of around one minute. In addition, the MSNs are simply covered with probe molecules as part of the sensor production process. The certified limits of detection for Cu(II) ions for the proposed CSCPD sensor is 1.57 ppb (2.48 × 10
−8
M). The suggested CSCPD sensor is dual-functional in that it may be used as a concentrator to recover ultra-trace quantities of Cu(II) ions as well as an effective ion-sensing device.