A selective lead sensor based on a fluorescent molecular probe grafted on a PDMS microfluidic chip

A calixarene bearing three dansyl groups and one long alkyl chain terminated by an alcohol function (Calix-DANS3-OH) has been synthesised. The photophysical and complexing properties of this new molecular fluorescent sensor are reported and show that Calix-DANS3-OH is able to selectively detect lead ion. In order to develop a portable sensor, calix-DANS3-OH was grafted on the wall of a PDMS microfluidic device. A fluorescence quenching has been observed upon Pb2+ complexation leading to detect low amounts of Pb2+. A detection limit of 2 × 10−7 mol L−1 (42 ppb) has been determined.