FRET‐based Solid‐state Luminescent Glyphosate Sensor Using Calixarene‐grafted Ruthenium(II)bipyridine Doped Silica Nanoparticles

Calixarene‐functionalized luminescent nanoparticles were successfully fabricated for the FRET‐based selective and sensitive detection of the organophosphorus pesticide glyphosate (GP). p‐Tert‐butylcalix[4]arene was grafted on the surface of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ incorporated SiNps to produce self‐assembled nanosensors (RSC). FRET was switched on in the presence of GP by means of energy transfer due to binding with p‐tert‐butylcalix[4]arene grafted on the surface of the RSC. The FRET efficiency of the GP‐RSC system was increased gradually with the addition of GP. The FRET efficiency was evaluated as 87.69 % and a high binding affinity was established by the binding constant value, 1.16×107 M−1, using a Langmuir binding isotherm plot. The estimated limit of detection (LOD) was 7.91×10−7 M, which was lower than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendation. The probe also effectively responds to real sample analysis. The sensitivity and selectivity was realized due to the efficient FRET towards the fluorescence properties of the [Ru(bpy)3]2+ complex. Calixarene‐functionalized luminescent silica nanoparticles are prepared and studied for selective, FRET‐based glyphosate‐sensing applications.