A modular synthetic platform for selective sensing and removal of Hg²⁺ was developed. This modular system possesses a unique feature to gradually increase the sensitivity even in competitive environments via increasing the number of Hg²⁺-coordinating units. This was made possible by synthesising a sequence-defined oligomer (SDO) with dithiocarbamate (DTC) as the Hg²⁺-coordinating unit in its backbone. Because it is a SDO, the Hg²⁺-coordinating unit was systematically increased to achieve a detection limit of 3 × 10⁻¹³ M, which is, to the best of our knowledge, the lowest reported. Any fluorophore can be synthetically attached via post-synthetic modification of the SDO to improve the efficiency of the sensor. Additionally, any functional group can be incorporated via custom synthesis of monomer to modulate the chemical property of the sensor. The same platform was shown as a removal system for Hg²⁺ with >95% removal efficiency via complexation and precipitation methods.

中文翻译：

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序列定义的寡聚体作为模块化平台，用于选择性亚皮摩尔检测和去除 Hg2+

开发了一种用于选择性检测和去除 Hg ^{2+ 的}模块化合成平台。这种模块化系统具有独特的功能，通过增加 Hg ²⁺协调单元的数量，即使在竞争环境中也能逐渐提高灵敏度。这是通过合成序列定义的低聚物 (SDO) 和二硫代氨基甲酸酯 (DTC) 作为其骨架中的 Hg ²⁺配位单元而实现的。因为它是一个 SDO，Hg ^{2+ -}协调单位被系统地增加以达到 3 × 10 ^-13 M的检测限，据我们所知，这是报告的最低值。任何荧光团可以合成连接经由SDO 的合成后修饰以提高传感器的效率。此外，任何官能团都可以通过单体的定制合成加入，以调节传感器的化学性质。相同的平台显示为 Hg ²⁺去除系统，通过络合和沉淀方法去除效率大于 95% 。