Amino- and carboxyl-functionalized carbon quantum dots (Amino-CQDs) were synthesized through fast and simple microwave treatment of a citric acid, ethylenediamine and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) mix. The reproducible and stable optical properties from newly synthesized CQD dispersion with a maximum absorbance spectra at 330 nm and the symmetric emission maximum at 470 nm made the Amino-CQDs a promising fluorescence material for analytical applications. The highly aminated and chelate moieties on the CQDs was appropriate for a copper (Cu2+) cation sensor in the linear range from 1 × 10-4 mg/mL to 10 mg/mL with a limit of detection at 0.00036 mg/mL by static fluorescence quenching effects. Furthermore, Amino-CQDs demonstrated stable fluorescence parameters for assays in diluted alkali metal solution (Na+ and K+) and sea water. Finally, a visual sensor, based on Amino-CQDs, was successfully created for the 0.01-100 mg/mL range to produce a colorimetric effect that can be registered by computer vision software (Open CV Python).
Keywords: amino derivatives; carbon quantum dots; copper sensor; fluorescence quenching; seawater; water safety.