Sensitive naked-eye detection of Hg2+ based on the aggregation and filtration of thymine functionalized vesicles caused by selective interaction between thymine and Hg2+.

We report a sensitive, selective and low-cost method for the naked-eye detection of Hg(2+). The principle is based on rapid interaction between functionalized PDA vesicles and Hg(2+), which leads to obvious aggregation of vesicles. Furthermore, using only a simple filtration process, without using any other color indicator or specialized equipment, a higher detection sensitivity for Hg(2+) (0.1 μM) than chromophoric colorimetric sensors (approximately 1-100 μM) was obtained.