A novel turn-on fluorescent sensor for highly selective detection of Al(iii) in an aqueous solution based on simple electrochemically synthesized carbon dots. Issue 26 (22nd June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fu, Xu-Cheng; Jin, Jiang-Zhou; Wu, Ju; Jin, Jun-Cheng; Xie, Cheng-Gen
• Is Part Of: Analytical methods. Volume 9:Issue 26(2017)
• Page Start: 3941
• Page End: 3948
• Publication Date: 2017-06-22
• Subjects: Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Analytical biochemistry -- Periodicals; Chemical laboratories -- Standards -- Periodicals; 543.1905
• DOI: 10.1039/c7ay01137g
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-9660

Abstract

Abstract : Photoluminescent C-dots made by a one-step electrolysis method make a selective fluorescent sensor for Al 3+ over other metal ions. Abstract : In this study, a simple and sensitive turn on fluorescent sensor for the detection of Al 3+ ion in an aqueous solution was developed based on carbon dots (C-dots) obtained via one-step electrolysis of graphite in sodium hydroxide aqueous solution. The as-prepared C-dots exhibit excellent photoluminescence and up-conversion photoluminescence properties and have an average size of 5.0 nm. The as-prepared C-dots showed a light green luminescence emission under 365 nm ultraviolet excitation and could be used as a novel label-free turn on fluorescent probe for the selective detection of Al 3+ ; this is quite different from the case of usual quenching effects of metal ions on fluorescent C-dots. The fluorescence enhancement effect of Al 3+ ion on the as-prepared C-dots could be attributed to the chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) mechanism. Abundant oxygen functional groups on the surface of C-dots have chelation interaction with Al 3+ and increase the rigidity of the C-dots, leading to fluorescence enhancement. Moreover, the as-prepared C-dots are highly selective for Al 3+ over other metal ions, with a detection limit of 0.05 μM, and the linear relationship between fluorescence intensity and concentration of Al 3+ is in the range of 0.1–7.2 μM. In addition, the as-prepared novel fluorescent probe was successfully applied for the direct analysis of Al 3+ in a real environmental water sample.