A novel type of multifunctional pRM@Au-Ni micromotor for screening of Hg2+ heavy metal ion

Abstract

We reported the fabrication of a novel type of conducting polymer-based magnetic-driven tubular micromotor that exhibited steerable motion in water and selectivity of Hg2+ heavy metal ion with multifunctional signals. Rhodamine-based carbazole (RM) monomer was synthesized and characterized. The production strategy of the new type of pRM@Au-Ni micromotor is based on the formation of rhodamine-based carbazole conductive polymer (pRM) first by electrochemical polymerization of RM over electroactive carbazole groups, then the formation of Au and Ni layers, with the aid of the technique of electrodeposition of layers into the membrane template. In this way, pRM@Au-Ni micromotor exhibited great sensitivity to Hg2+ via changes in the fluorescence intensity, micromotor speed, and electrochemical signals as a multifunctional platform. pRM@Au-Ni micromotor showed low detection of 1.0 × 10−11 M according to fluorescence intensity, micromotor speed, and electrochemical signals. Besides, the magnetic properties of the pRM@Au-Ni control the Hg2+ direction under an external magnetic field, so it has purification potential conveniently separate the Hg2+ heavy metal ion from the water. As a mobile environment cleaning platform, the pRM@Au-Ni micromotor will be a very promising alternative for the simple, rapid, and selective detection and removal of Hg2+ heavy metal ions with multi signals. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.