Rational designed strategy to dispel mutual interference of mercuric and ferric ions towards robust, pH-stable fluorescent carbon nanodots.
As one of the most promising fluorometric nanosensors for metal ion sensing, carbon nanodots (C-dots) have developed rapidly in recent years. However, it is still a thorny problem to shield the mutual interference of two metal ions towards C-dots, e.g., Hg2+and Fe3+ions. In the present work, we propose rational routes for the unique interaction between C-dots and Hg2+or Fe3+. The selectivity of the as-obtained label-free C-dots can be effectively switched by P3O105-and SCN-. The resultant C-dots possess superior photoluminescence intensity stability in a wide pH range or in certain redox circumstances, which are highly preferred in terms of practical metal-ion detection. Moreover, the quenching-recovery-regeneration performances and quenching mechanisms were also investigated. Based on this stable and recoverable sensing platform, this in-depth study for dispelling interference from Hg2+and Fe3+ions may open up a new paradigm for developing potential detection of multi-metal ions using C-dots with switchable selectivity.
Department of BIN Convergence Technology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, 561-756, South Korea. khy@jbnu.ac.kr.
Yang
Y
Liu
Department of BIN Convergence Technology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, 561-756, South Korea. khy@jbnu.ac.kr.
Yanan
Y
Liu
Department of BIN Convergence Technology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, 561-756, South Korea. khy@jbnu.ac.kr.
Jinpyo
J
Lee
Department of BIN Convergence Technology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, 561-756, South Korea. khy@jbnu.ac.kr.
Joong Hee
JH
Lee
Department of Organic Materials and Fiber Engineering, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, South Korea. wonderfulmira@jbnu.ac.kr.
Mira
M
Park
Department of BIN Convergence Technology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, 561-756, South Korea. khy@jbnu.ac.kr.
Hak Yong
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4133-124X
HY
Kim