Optical sensors based on functionalized mesoporous silica SBA-15 for the detection of multianalytes (H+ and Cu2+) in water

A novel fluorescent chemosensing material (2-MPT-SBA-15) for multianalyte detection in water was prepared through the functionalization of mesoporous silica (SBA-15) with a fluorescent chromophore, 5-methoxy-2-thiazoles (2-MPT). The characterization of the obtained material 2-MPT-SBA-15 shows that the organized structure is preserved after the post-grafting procedure. This hybrid material not only displayed pH sensitive fluorescent behavior with a dual-emission in the range of 1 to 5.7, but is also an optical sensor for the sensitive and selective detection of Cu2+ ions in water. Furthermore, both the sensing detection of pH and Cu2+ are very fast and reproducible.