Selective interaction between phytomediated anionic silver nanoparticles and mercury leading to amalgam formation enables highly sensitive, colorimetric and memristor-based detection of mercury

Presently, nanotechnology is being foreseen to play an important role in developing analytical assays for the detection of pollutants like mercury (Hg 2+ ). In this study, Kokum fruit mediated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were differentially centrifuged to prepare anionic, monodispersed AgNPs to develop a highly sensitive, colorimetric and memristor-based assay for detection of Hg 2+ in water samples. The investigation of the highly selective reaction between AgNPs and Hg 2+ using HAADF-STEM images and EDS spectrum indicated the amalgam formation through etching and under potential deposition which resulted in a visible color change from brown to colorless, change in SPR intensity and also change in memristive switching like property of AgNPs. The developed colorimetric assay detected Hg 2+ with a limit of detection (LOD) of 6.2 ppb and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 18.9 ppb and, quantitatively recovered Hg 2+ with good accuracy and precision (RSD