| Title: | Sustainable mercury monitoring using graphitic carbon nitride as a 2D binding layer in diffusive gradient thin films |
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| Authors: | ID Deev, Dmitrii, Institut "Jožef Stefan" (Author)
ID Chouhan, Raghuraj S., Institut "Jožef Stefan" (Author)
ID Živković, Igor, Institut "Jožef Stefan" (Author)
ID Begu, Ermira, Institut "Jožef Stefan" (Author)
ID Drinčić, Ana (Author)
ID Ruiz-Zepeda, Francisco (Author)
ID Krajnc, Andraž (Author)
ID Jerman, Ivan (Author)
ID Viter, Roman (Author)
ID Lapanje, Aleš, Institut "Jožef Stefan" (Author)
ID Horvat, Milena, Institut "Jožef Stefan" (Author) |
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| Files: |  URL - Source URL, visit https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772416626001890?via%3Dihub
 PDF - Presentation file, download (4,27 MB)
MD5: 7499847146B1E7BDD0C8D73FFCF76D98
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| Language: | English |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: |  IJS - Jožef Stefan Institute
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| Abstract: | Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic and persistent environmental pollutant whose accurate monitoring remains challenging due to limitations in existing diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) binding materials, including insufficient selectivity, complex synthesis, and sustainability concerns. In this study, we report the first application of graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) nanosheets as a metal-free and sustainable binding material for Hg²⁺ monitoring in DGT systems, addressing key limitations of current approaches. Few-layer GCN nanosheets were synthesized via thermal polymerization followed by protonation-assisted exfoliation and comprehensively characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These analyses confirmed the formation of a structurally stable, nitrogen-rich framework with abundant coordination sites. The GCN–agarose (AG–GCN) composite binding layer demonstrated high mercury binding efficiency (>90%) at environmentally relevant concentrations (2.5–10 ng/mL) and near-neutral pH, attributed to strong coordination between Hg²⁺ ions and electron-donating nitrogen sites within the heptazine structure. Compared to conventional DGT binding phases, the proposed system offers enhanced sustainability, metal-free composition, and strong affinity toward mercury, highlighting its potential for next-generation passive environmental monitoring and advanced nanomaterial-based sensing platforms. |
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| Keywords: | passive monitoring, graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets, adsorbent, mercury detection, nanosheets |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Submitted for review: | 19.11.2025 |
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| Article acceptance date: | 24.04.2026 |
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| Publication date: | 25.04.2026 |
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| Publisher: | Elsevier |
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| Year of publishing: | 2026 |
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| Number of pages: | str. 1-11 |
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| Numbering: | Vol. 22, [article no.] 101190 |
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| Source: | Nizozemska |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DiRROS-29250  |
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| UDC: | 543 |
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| ISSN on article: | 2772-4166 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.hazadv.2026.101190 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 276796931 |
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| Copyright: | © 2026 The Authors. |
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| Note: | Nasl. z nasl. zaslona;
Soavtorji: Raghuraj Singh Chouhan, Igor Živković, Ermira Begu, Ana Drinčić, Francisco Ruiz-Zepeda, Andraž Krajnc, Ivan Jerman, Roman Viter, Aleš Lapanje, Milena Horvat;
Opis vira z dne 30. 4. 2026;
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| Publication date in DiRROS: | 04.05.2026 |
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| Views: | 50 |
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| Downloads: | 22 |
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