Facile functionalization of a tetrahedron-like PEG macromonomer-based fluorescent hydrogel with high strength and its heavy metal ion detection

A tetrahedron-like PEG macromonomer-based fluorescent hydrogel was fabricated by a facile method. The functional hydrogel shows comparable high strength, up to megapascals, and sensitivity to heavy metal ions, such as Cu2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Co2+, Hg2+ and Ni2+, which allow a potentially rapid visual response, trace analysis and one-step recyclable sensing for metal ion detection.