Khusnul Ilmiah, Jitapa Sumranjit, Tuksadon Wutikhun, and Atitaya Siripinyanond*

Single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) was used for tracking changes in nanoparticles during their synthesis and colorimetric sensing. The information on equivalent spherical diameter and the number of particles obtained from SP-ICP-MS was employed for tracking the changes in silver nanoparticles during their synthesis process under various synthesis conditions and also during the colorimetric sensing of mercury due to the ability of mercury to protect against bromide etching of silver nanoplates. A linear increase in particle concentrations was observed by SP-ICP-MS for the concentration range of 0.001–0.01 mg L^–1 mercury ions. With additional effort, the detection limit of mercury was pushed down to approximately 0.01 μg L^–1.

Thanks are due to NSRF via the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation [grant number B05F640129]. The support from Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC) and National Research Council of Thailand (N41A640159 and N11A650144) are gratefully acknowledged.