Self-Assembled Artificial Light-Harvesting System Constructed Using Electrostatic Interactions in Aqueous Solution for the Sensing of Heavy Metal Cations

A supramolecular artificial light-harvesting system (LHS) is successfully constructed in an aqueous environment using carbon dots (CDs) and alpha, beta, gamma, delta-Tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl) porphyrin p-Toluenesulfonate (TMPyP) via electrostatic interactions. Specifically, the CDs act as a donor, and TMPyP, which is loaded to the surface of the CDs, acts as an acceptor for the LHS. Energy transfer occurs from the CDs to the TMPyP in the assembled CDs-TMPyP upon UV excitation. To demonstrate the applicability, the CDs-TMPyP system is used as a sensor for Hg(II) in an aqueous solution. Subsequently, a functional material suitable for the detection and removal of Hg(II) is fabricated by integrating the CDs-TMPyP into a polymer network.