Green synthesized carbon quantum dots from maple tree leaves for biosensing of Cesium and electrocatalytic oxidation of glycerol

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2022-01, Vol.287, p.131915-131915, Article 131915
• Main Authors: Chellasamy, Gayathri, Arumugasamy, Shiva Kumar, Govindaraju, Saravanan, Yun, Kyusik
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon quantum dots; Cesium; Glycerol electrooxidation; Green synthesis; Maple leaves
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131915

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) synthesized from biological sources play a significant role in biomedical and environmental applications, including bioimaging, biosensing, metal ions detection and electrocatalytic oxidations. Herein, we synthesized blue-emitting carbon quantum dots using maple tree leaves via a one-step hydrothermal process to detect Cesium ions selectively. The synthesized CQDs' functional group composition, morphology, and pH stability was analytical and morphologically investigated. The maple leaves derived carbon quantum dots (M-CQDs) exhibited blue fluorescence, and their sizes ranged from 1 to 10 nm. They exhibited emission at 445 nm upon excitation at 360 nm. M-CQDs PL intensity was highly stable for about 100 d without any changes and confirmed that the as-prepared CQDs could be used as a probe for Cesium ion sensing. M-CQDs were effectively used as Cesium sensing probes based on the electron transfer process and simultaneously used as a catalyst for glycerol electrooxidation. The PL intensity of M-CQDs was quenched while adding the varies concentration of Cesium ions in the linear range from 100 μM to 100 nM with the detection limit of (LOD) 160 nM, simultaneously electrocatalytic oxidation of glycerol showed an onset potential of 1.32 V at a current density of 10 mA/cm2. •One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of carbon quantum dots (M-CQDs) derived from maple leaves using a greener approach.•M-CQDs exhibit blue fluorescence and also displays PL stability of 100 days.•Morphological affirmation of M-CQDs via TEM and AFM visualizes around 1–10 nm.•PL quenching upon the interaction of cesium ions with M-CQDs holding a detection limit of 24 nM and 40 nM in the real sample.•Electrocatalytic oxidation of glycerol in alkaline medium displays significant behavior and long-term durability.