A Fluorescent Sensor for Zinc Detection and Removal Based on Core-Shell Functionalized Fe3O4@SiO2 Nanoparticles

The magnetic Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized with 8-chloroacetylaminoquinoline as a fluorescent sensor for detection and removal of Zn2+ have been synthesized. The core-shell structures of the nanoparticles and chemical composition have been confirmed by TEM, XRD, FTIR, and XPS techniques. The addition of functionalized Fe3O4@SiO2 NPs into the acetonitrile solution of Zn2+ had an effect of visual color change as well as significant fluorescent enhancement. High-saturated magnetizations (24.7 emu/g) of functionalized Fe3O4@SiO2 NPs could help to separate the metal ions from the aqueous solution. The magnetic sensor exhibited high removal efficiency towards Zn2+ (92.37%). In this work, we provided an easy and efficient route to detect Zn2+ and simultaneously remove Zn2+.