Detection of toxic mercury ions using a ratiometric CdSe/ZnS nanocrystal sensor.

We have developed a strategy for the ratiometric detection of toxic Hg(2+) ions using a semiconductor nanocrystal energy-transfer donor coupled to a mercury-sensitive "turn-on" dye acceptor. The results demonstrate a new paradigm of toxic metal sensing that resolves the difficulties with the use of semiconductor nanotechnology for this purpose.