Detection of Heavy Metal Ions Using Synthesized Amino Thiol Surfactants Assembled on Gold Nanoparticles

In this work, we synthesized amino thiol surfactants, namely, 10-(4-aminophenoxy)-decane-1-thiol and 12-(4-aminophenoxy)-dodecane-1-thiol. The self-assembling of the synthesized surfactants on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was investigated using different techniques such as ultraviolet analysis, x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The synthesized surfactants show the ability to assemble on gold nanoparticles and form stable nanostructure with it. We used the synthesized surfactants and their nanostructures with gold nanoparticles for the detection of Zn and Ni ions in aqueous solution using the ultraviolet spectrophotometer technique. The synthesized amino thiol surfactants showed the ability to detect Zn and Ni ions at low concentration. The results showed that gold nanoparticles can enhance the detection of Zn and Ni ions using the nanostructures of the synthesized surfactants.