title: A facile synthesis of highly luminescent nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots for the detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol in aqueous solution.
abstract: A facile bottom-up method for the synthesis of highly fluorescent nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) has been developed via a one-step pyrolysis of citric acid and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane. The obtained N-GQDs emitted strong blue fluorescence under 365 nm UV light excitation with a high quantum yield of 59.2%. They displayed excitation-independent behavior, high resistance to photobleaching and high ionic strength. In addition to the good linear relationship between the fluorescence intensity of the N-GQDs and pH in the range 2-7, the fluorescence intensity of the N-GQDs could be greatly quenched by the addition of a small amount of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP). A sensitive approach has been developed for the detection of TNP with a detection limit of 0.30 μM, and a linearity ranging from 1 to 60 μM TNP could be obtained. The approach was highly selective and suitable for TNP analysis in natural water samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and the MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China. xichen@xmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Mingcong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.forename: Sisi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xinhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yunxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Jiawei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Yiru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010851:Picrates / Q000032:analysis*; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010851:Picrates; D014867:Water; D006108:Graphite; C005858:picric acid; D009584:Nitrogen