Overcoming shielding in mass detection via isolation of sulfur heterocycles using green silver nanoparticles

Abstract

AbstractSilver nanoparticles (nano‐Ag0) fixed on supports or in colloidal solution exhibit surface plasmon resonance, but there have been few attempts at surface plasmon resonance‐based liquid chromatographic separation. Here, for the first time, a capped Ag(I) green tea colloidal solution was used as a precursor to anchor nano‐Ag0 on silica. Nano‐Ag0 supported on silica was confirmed by spectroscopy and microscopy, and nano‐Ag0 particles (average diameter 20 nm) were scattered on the silica surface. This ecologically friendly approach for doping nanoparticles on solid supports was as efficient as chemical methods and could be used to separate polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles from a heavy aromatic fraction. Using a nano‐Ag‐silica ligand exchanger, parts‐per‐million concentrations of sulfur heterocycles were probed by surface plasmon resonance nano‐Ag0 on a solid substrate. Using this approach, mass detection shielding can be eliminated to isolate polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles from aromatic fractions. This study presents an innovative approach to producing dispersed silver nanoparticles on a solid substrate.