Facile synthesis of N, P-doped carbon dots from maize starch via a solvothermal approach for the highly sensitive detection of Fe3

• Published in: RSC advances 2020-09, Vol.10 (55), p.33483-33489
• Main Authors: Dong, Guohua, Lang, Kun, Ouyang, He, Zhang, Wenzhi, Bai, Liming, Chen, Shijie, Zhang, Zhuanfang, Gao, Yueyue, Mu, Zhonghua, Zhao, Xiaodan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon dots; Chemistry; Ethanol; Ferric ions; Fluorescent indicators; Fourier transforms; Functional groups; Nitrogen; Photoelectrons; Spectrum analysis; Synthesis
• ISSN: 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/d0ra06209j

Nitrogen/phosphorus-doped carbon dots (N, P-CDs) with a quantum yield as high as 76.5% were synthesized by carbonizing maize starch via a facile ethanol solvothermal approach. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurement shows that the as-prepared N, P-CDs displayed a quasi-spherical shape with a mean size of ca. 2.5 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy disclosed the presence of –OH, –NH2, –COOH, and –CO functional groups over the surface of N, P-CDs. On the basis of excellent fluorescent properties with strong blue fluorescence emission at 445 nm upon excitation at 340 nm, these N, P-CDs were adopted as a fluorescent probe towards the effective detection of Fe3+ ions in water. The limit of detection (LOD) was as low as 0.1 μmol L−1 and showed a better linear relationship in the range of 0.1 ∼ 50 μmol L−1. In conclusion, these synthesized N, P-CDs can be efficiently used as a promising candidate for the detection of Fe3+ ions in some practical samples.