A novel fluorescent probe with large Stokes shift for the detection of Ag+ and Hg2+

Fluorescence detection of heavy metals is considered to be a very promising method. A novel fluorescent probe NIFP with large Stokes shift (130 nm) was synthesized for the detection of silver (I) and mercury (II) ions. The probe NIFP was able to specifically identify silver (I) and mercury (II) ions in ethanol by absorption and fluorescence emission spectra. Upon addition of silver (I) and mercury (II) ions, the fluorescence intensity of NIFP at 570 nm increases greatly and the absorption and emission wavelengths change significantly. In addition, NIFP has good stability for the recognition of silver (I) and mercury (II) ions in the presence of interfering ions (Li+, Na+, K+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, Sr2+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Al3+, Cr3+, Fe3+). NIFP has low detection limits for the identification of silver (I) and mercury (II) ions and is capable of detecting mercury (II) ions over a wide range of pH values.