N-doped carbon dots for the determination of Al3+ and Fe3+ using aggregation-induced emission

• Published in: Mikrochimica acta (1966) Vol. 191; no. 1; p. 78
• Main Authors: Yang, Dou, Shao, Tong, Wang, Xiaoshuang, Hong, Min, Li, Rui, Li, Chenzhong, Yue, Qiaoli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01.01.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acrylamide; Analytical Chemistry; Carbon dots; Cellulose acetate; Cellulose nitrate; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Colorimetry; Emission; Fluorescence; Fluorimetry; Hydrogels; Microengineering; Nanochemistry; Nanotechnology; Original Paper; Portability; Fluorescence; Colorimetry; Carbon dots; Cell imaging; Hydrogel sensor
• ISSN: 0026-3672; 1436-5073
• DOI: 10.1007/s00604-023-06143-w

New portable hydrogel sensors for Al 3+ and Fe 3+ detection were designed based on the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and color change of N-doped carbon dots (N-CDs). N-CDs with yellow fluorescence were prepared by a one-pot hydrothermal method from 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid and acrylamide. The fluorescence of N-CDs was enhanced by Al 3+ about 20 times and quenched by Fe 3+ . It was interesting that although Fe 3+ showed obvious quenching on the fluorescence of N-CDs it did not cause a noticeable change in the fluorescence of N-CDs + Al 3+ . The colorless solution of N-CDs appeared blue in the presence of Fe 3+ without the influence of Al 3+ . Therefore, the turn-on fluorometry and colorimetry systems based on N-CDs were constructed for the simultaneous detection of Al 3+ and Fe 3+ . Furthermore, the portable sensing of Al 3+ and Fe 3+ was realized with the assistance of hydrogel, filter paper, cellulose acetate, and cellulose nitrate film. The proposed approach was successfully applied to the detection of Al 3+ and Fe 3+ in food samples and cell imaging. Graphical Abstract