RESUMO
A colorimetric method was developed for detection of mercury based on the inhibition of oxidation of peroxidase substrates. The as-prepared gold nanoclusters ( Au NCs), which has been stabilized and reduced by Glutathione (GSH), can effectively catalyze the H2 O2-TMB to generate a blue color signal. It is interestingly that Hg2+ can inhibit the oxidation of peroxidase substrates, thus causing a color diminished. Taking advantage of the inhibitive effect of Hg2+, a novel Hg2+ sensor has been developed. In this system, sensing conditions, including pH of the buffer solution, substrate concentration and time, were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the probe showed a linear range of 10 - 300 nmol/ L ( R2 = 0. 997) with a detection limit of 6. 26 nmol/ L. In addition, this sensor exhibited good selectivity and sensitivity for Hg2+against other common environmental mental ions, providing a new method for water analysis.