Recent Development in Optoelectronic Sensing of Organomercuric Species and its Discrimination Over Inorganic Mercury

Abstract

: Organomercuric species pose significant environmental and health risks, requiring precise detection methods for effective monitoring and risk assessment. Current approaches in multiple material-based sensing of organomercuric species and their discrimination over inorganic Hg2+ ions are reviewed in this paper. These approaches include the use of diverse sensing materials, such as small-molecule-based optical probes, nanoparticles or nanocomposite-based optical probes, electrochemical-based probes, fluorescent probes, colorimetric indicators, and some other probes. The significance and application of these materials, along with the sensing strategy of organomercury species and their mechanism, were also interpreted. This review article presents a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in optoelectronic sensing techniques for the discrimination of organomercuric species from inorganic mercury compounds. Optoelectronic sensors, leveraging the principles of optics and electronics, offer enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and real-time monitoring capabilities. The paper discusses the advantages and limitations of each sensing technique and highlights the recent advancements in material synthesis and design, which have led to the development of highly sensitive and selective sensors for organomercury compounds. Furthermore, the discrimination of organomercuric species from inorganic Hg2+ ions is emphasized, which is a challenging task due to their similar chemical properties. Overall, this review article provides an overview of the current state-of-the-art in multiple material-based sensing of organomercuric species and its discrimination from inorganic Hg2+ ions, which can aid in the development of novel sensing strategies for environmental and biomedical applications.