o-phenylenediamine Derived Fluorescent Carbon Quantum dots for Detection of Hg(II) in Environmental Water

Anqi Hu; Guoqing Chen; Anlan Huang; Zicheng Cai; Taiqun Yang; Chaoqun Ma; Lei Li; Hui Gao; Jiao Gu; Chun Zhu; Yamin Wu; Xiaoqian Qiu; Jinzeng Xu; Jialu Shen; Lvyuan Zhong

doi:10.1007/s10895-023-03331-y

o-phenylenediamine Derived Fluorescent Carbon Quantum dots for Detection of Hg(II) in Environmental Water

J Fluoresc. 2024 Mar;34(2):905-913. doi: 10.1007/s10895-023-03331-y. Epub 2023 Jul 7.

Authors

Anqi Hu^{1

2}, Guoqing Chen^{3

4}, Anlan Huang^{1

2}, Zicheng Cai^{1

2}, Taiqun Yang^{1

2}, Chaoqun Ma^{1

2}, Lei Li^{1

2}, Hui Gao^{1

2}, Jiao Gu^{1

2}, Chun Zhu^{1

2}, Yamin Wu^{1

2}, Xiaoqian Qiu^{1

2}, Jinzeng Xu^{1

2}, Jialu Shen^{1

2}, Lvyuan Zhong^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ School of Science, Jiangnan University, 214122, Wuxi, China.
² Jiangsu Provincial Research Center of Light Industrial Optoelectronic Engineering and Technology, 214122, Wuxi, China.
³ School of Science, Jiangnan University, 214122, Wuxi, China. jncgq@jiangnan.edu.cn.
⁴ Jiangsu Provincial Research Center of Light Industrial Optoelectronic Engineering and Technology, 214122, Wuxi, China. jncgq@jiangnan.edu.cn.

PMID: 37418199
DOI: 10.1007/s10895-023-03331-y

Abstract

With the expansion of human activities, the consequent influx of mercury (Hg) into the food chain and the environment is seriously threatening human life. Herein, nitrogen and sulfur co-doped fluorescent carbon quantum dots (yCQDs) were prepared via a hydrothermal method using o-phenylenediamine (OPD) and taurine as precursors. The morphological characteristics as well as spectral features of yCQDs indicated that the photoluminescence mechanism should be the molecular state fluorophores of 2, 3-diaminophenothiazine (oxOPD), which is the oxide of OPD. The as-synthesized yCQDs exhibited sensitive recognition of Hg²⁺. According to the investigation in combination of UV-Vis absorption spectra, time-resolved fluorescence spectra and quantum chemical calculations, the abundant functional groups on the surface of yCQDs allowed Hg²⁺ to bind with yCQDs through various interactions, and the formed complexes significantly inhibited the absorption of excitation light, resulting in the static fluorescence quenching of yCQDs. The proposed yCQDs was utilized for Hg²⁺ sensing with the limit of detection calculated to be 4.50 × 10^{- 8} M. Furthermore, the recognition ability of yCQDs for Hg²⁺ was estimated in tap water, lake water and bottled water, and the results indicated that yCQDs have potential applications in monitoring Hg²⁺.

Keywords: Carbon quantum dots; Fluorescent sensor; Mercury ion; o-phenylenediamine.

Abstract

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