Investigating the binding capabilities of triazole-calix[4]arene functionalized microcantilever sensors toward heavy metals in aqueous solution

Braim, Mona (2017) Investigating the binding capabilities of triazole-calix[4]arene functionalized microcantilever sensors toward heavy metals in aqueous solution. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The main objective of this work was to investigate the binding capabilities of gold-coated micro-cantilever sensors functionalized with a bimodal triazole-calix[4]arene towards select heavy metals (e.g. Hg²⁺, Fe³⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Pb²⁺). The interaction between the triazole-calix[4]arene functionalized micro-cantilevers and the target analytes resulted in the formation of a differential surface stresse, which in turn, resulted in a mechanical deflection of the microcantilever. Results showed that microcantilever arrays modified with triazole-calix[4]arene were capable of detecting trace concentrations of Hg²⁺ ions as low as 10⁻¹¹ M, which is sufficiently low for most applications. Results also showed that triazolecalix[4]arene functionalized microcantilevers were capable of detecting the presence of Pb²⁺ ions in aqueous solution of Hg²⁺. A new functionalization unit was also constructed to functionalize all 8 microcantilevers in an array with different sensing layers simultaneously, thus increasing the accuracy and reliability of the experimental results.

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