Detection of Heavy Metal Contaminants in Water and the Environment

A simple and highly sensitive plasmonic colorimetric method using nanomaterials is reviewed to detect heavy metal ions in aqueous samples. The basic properties of nanomaterials, which make them behave differently from their bulk counterpart is addressed. The main focus is on the potential applications of intelligent materials like metal NPs and core-shell nanocomposites for the sensing of heavy metal ions in an aqueous media and environment. The article also presents an overview of the science and technology behind nanoparticle-based sensors in general and core-shell sensors in particular. This article embodies an overview of the exciting and emerging field of sensors with an emphasis on metal nanoparticles and core-shell nanocomposites.