Hectorite/Phenanthroline-Based Nanomaterial as Fluorescent Sensor for Zinc Ion Detection: A Theoretical and Experimental Study

The study develops a hectorite/phenanthroline-based nanomaterial as a fluorescent sensor for detecting Zn2+ ions in aqueous solutions, emphasizing its biocompatibility and cost-effectiveness. The research combines theoretical and experimental methods, confirming the successful intercalation of phenanthroline into hectorite and its favorable adsorption energy. The nanomaterial shows selectivity for Zn2+ ions, with a detection limit of 5.2 μM, making it suitable for biological applications like detecting Zn2+ in human blood plasma. The sensor's fluorescence response is reversible, allowing for multiple detection cycles, and it remains stable with other metal ions. This eco-friendly sensor holds potential for environmental and biological monitoring, particularly due to the biological importance of Zn ions, such as their association with conditions like alopecia.