Methylmercury (CH3Hg+) recognition
remains
a challenging and imperative task due to its high toxicity and wide
existence in the ecosystem. Herein, a novel fluorescent covalent–organic
framework containing a boric acid functional group (COF-BA) was prepared
by a postmodification strategy for CH3Hg+ detection.
COF-BA served as a sensing platform for CH3Hg+ with fluorescence static quenching accompanied by fluorescence color
changing from intense blue to colorless, and the detection limit was
determined as 1.68 μM in a relatively narrow concentration range.
COF-BA also exhibited superior selectivity toward CH3Hg+ detection. Furthermore, the spiked and recovery test in real
water samples showed its efficient detection practicality. The detection
mechanism of COF-BA toward CH3Hg+ was investigated.
The recognitive boric acid group in COF-BA was first replaced by CH3Hg+. Then, the quinoline structure that served
to limit the rotation of the imine bond was disrupted, leading to
dramatic fluorescence quenching. The boric acid functional COF fluorescent
probe can be a promising sensing platform for the detection of methylmercury
and also provides new ideas for the construction of new fluorescent
COF materials.
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