Hydrophilic nitrogen-doped carbon dots from biowaste using dwarf banana peel for environmental and biological applications

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) 2020-09, Vol.275, p.117821, Article 117821
• Main Authors: Atchudan, Raji, Edison, Thomas Nesakumar Jebakumar Immanuel, Perumal, Suguna, Muthuchamy, Nallal, Lee, Yong Rok
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aqueous solutions; Biocompatibility; Bioimaging; Biowaste; Carbon; Carbon dots; Environmental protection; Ferric ion detection; Ferric ions; Fluorescence; Graphitic structure; Hepatocytes; Hydrophilicity; Hydrothermal method; Iron; Medical imaging; Metal ions; N-doped carbon dots; Nitrogen; Raman spectroscopy; Size distribution; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Tunable emission
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2020.117821

[Display omitted] •A novel hydrophilic nitrogen-doped carbon dots (HN-CDs) was prepared from biowaste.•Resulting HN-CDs have tunable fluorescence emission with good quantum yield (23%).•As-prepared HN-CDs selectively detect the Fe3+ ions with a LOD of 0.66 μM.•Further, the HN-CDs employed for multicolor bioimaging and fluoroscent ink.•Finally, biowaste turned to a fluorescent probe for environmental and health care. Hydrophilic nitrogen-doped carbon dots (HN-CDs) were produced by a simple hydrothermal method from biowaste, dwarf banana peel. XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and HRTEM analyses confirmed the graphitic structure and narrow size distribution of the HN-CDs. Nitrogen-doping to the carbon structure/framework and owing rich hydrophilic groups on HN-CDs surface were confirmed by XPS and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy techniques. HN-CDs emitted strong and tunable fluorescence (FL) and possessed a good quantum yield (23%). Thus this novel HN-CDs applied as a nanoprobe for the detection of metal ion (Fe3+ ion) in aqueous solution by the fluorometric method. Excessive or lesser amounts of Fe3+ ion in human bodies lead to diverse diseases. Additionally, the accumulation of Fe3+ ion in the environment will escort to a great threat. The prepared HN-CDs selectively and sensitively detect Fe3+ ions by the FL quenching of HN-CDs with a limit of detection of 0.66 μM in the range of 5–25 μM. Further, the HN-CDs employed as a biocompatible probe for the multicolor bioimaging in rat liver cells. Also, HN-CDs used as fluorescent ink for drawing and writing. Thus, the biowaste/biomass successfully turned to a useful nanoprobe for environmental protection and health care.