Imidazole and imine coated ZnO nanoparticles for nanomolar detection of Al(III) and Zn(II) in semi-aqueous media

Imidazole and imine-linked dipodal receptors were decorated on the surface of ZnO nanoparticles. Cation binding assays of these chemosensors showed that receptors 5 and 6 had high selectivity for Al(III) and Zn(II) ions, respectively. The detection limit for Al(III) with receptor 5 was 11 nM, and the detection limit for Zn(II) ion with receptor 6 was 23 nM.