title: Selective Probing of Gaseous Ammonia Using Red-Emitting Carbon Dots Based on an Interfacial Response Mechanism.
abstract: Solid-state fluorescence sensing is one of the most appealing detection techniques because of its simplicity and convenience in practical operation. Herein, we report the development of a red-emitting carbon dots (RCDs)-based material as a solid-state fluorescence sensor for the selective probing of gaseous ammonia. The RCDs were prepared by a low-cost, one-step carbonization method using sugar cane bagasse as the carbon precursor. The pristine RCDs were then directly coated on polyvinylidene fluoride membrane to produce a new fluorescence sensor capable of selectively distinguishing toxic gaseous ammonia from other analyte vapors through sensitive fluorescence quenching with a low detection limit. More importantly, the interfacial response mechanism occurring on the surface of the RCDs has been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman measurements. The results indicate that fluorescence quenching in the RCDs might result from ammonia-induced Michael addition through insertion of N into the C=C group and deprotonation of the carboxyl group. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that provides clear insight into the mechanism of surface chemistry on CDs in the solid state.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Chemistry and, Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004 (P. R. China).
authors.forename: Bang-Ping
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Chemistry and, Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004 (P. R. China).
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Chemistry and, Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004 (P. R. China). xcshen@mailbox.gxnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xing-Can
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Chemistry and, Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004 (P. R. China).
authors.forename: Yun-Xiang
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Chemistry and, Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004 (P. R. China).
authors.forename: Shi-Chen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Chemistry and, Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004 (P. R. China).
authors.forename: Chang-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Chemistry and, Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004 (P. R. China). hliang@gxnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
keywords: carbon dots; gaseous ammonia; red-emitting fluorescence; sensing mechanism; solid-state fluorescence sensing; surface chemistry