title: Detection of Hg2+ using microcantilever sensors.
abstract: Trace amounts of Hg2+ are detected by using a microcantilever coated with gold. The microcantilever undergoes bending due to accumulation of Hg2+ on the gold surface. It is found that a concentration of 10(-11) M Hg2+ can be detected using this technology. Other cations, such as K+, Na+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Ni2, Cd2+, Cu2+, and Ca2+ have little or no effect on the deflection of the cantilever. The selectivity of the Hg2+ sensor could be improved by coating the gold surface of microcantilever with a self-assembled monolayer of a long-chain thiol compound.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Program Institute for Micromanufacturing, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston 71272, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaohe
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Thundat
authors.forename: Gilbert M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Hai-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D004867:Equipment Design; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012996:Solutions; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D006046:Gold; D008628:Mercury