Bio-Inspired Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Enhanced Sensing of Mercury Through Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticle

We report sensing of mercury ion through localized surface plasmon resonance based intensity modulation. A U-shaped probe is utilized for this purpose that is functionalized with Chitosan mediated silver nanoparticles. The nanoparticles have been synthesized through a green route. The as-synthesized silver nanoparticles are found to be ~44 nm, as affirmed by absorption curves and DLS experiment. Subject to the dipping of as- fabricated probe in various heavy metal ion solutions, we attain excellent selectivity towards mercury. The sensing offers a limit of detection of 1.5 ppb with an excellent linearity ~0.97. The eco-friendly as well as cost-effective with simplistic design approach has enough potential for the application in real time monitoring of heavy metal contaminants in aqueous solutions.