Nitrogen doped carbon nanodots as fluorescent probes for selective detection and quantification of Ferric(III) ions

• Published in: Optical materials 2017-11, Vol.73, p.77-82
• Main Authors: Chin, Suk-Fun, Tan, Shao-Chien, Pang, Suh-Cem, Ng, Sing-Muk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ferric ions (Fe3+); fluorescence detection; N-CDs; One–pot microwave-assisted synthesis
• ISSN: 0925-3467; 1873-1252
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2017.08.006

Nitrogen (N) doped carbon dots (N-CDs) that showed blue fluorescence with quantum yield (QY) of 12.25% were synthesized by one step microwave irradiation of lysine in ortho-phosphoric acid at 1000 W for 5 min. The as-synthesized N-CDs were successfully explored as fluorescent probes for selective detection of ferric (Fe3+) ions in aqueous condition with a linear range from 0.2 to 5.0 mM and a detection limit of 0.074 mM ± 0.081 (S/N = 3). The N-CDs exhibited high selectivity towards the detection of Fe3+ ions even in the presence of interfering ions. The N-CDs also demonstrated the potential of practical application for determining of Fe3+ ions concentration in real samples with high recovery rate and low relative standard deviation error. •Nitrogen doped Carbon Dots (N-CDs) has been synthesized by one step microwave irradiation method.•A quantum yield as high as 12.25% was achieved.•N-CDs were successfully explored as fluorescent probes for selective detection and quantification of ferric ions (Fe3+).•N-CDs exhibited a linear detection range of 0.2–5.0 mM Fe3+ with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.074 mM ± 0.081.