Smartphone-based disposable cotton-swab sensor loaded with creatinine/Cu–chlorophyllin–stabilized AuNPs for ultrasensitive RGB colorimetric detection of mercury (II) ions in aquatic environments

Key Points

• The cotton-swab sensor detects mercury ions with high sensitivity, enhancing monitoring of aquatic environments.
• The method utilizes colorimetric detection techniques with creatinine and chlorophyllin-stabilized gold nanoparticles.
• Detection capabilities are enhanced using smartphone technology for real-time analysis in various settings.
• This innovation supports further development in cost-effective environmental monitoring tools for pollutant detection.