Dear Colleagues,

Nanocomposite materials exhibit different properties from both individual atoms and bulk properties in a material.  Understanding both physical and chemical characteristics of the materials lead to fabricating various luminescent nanocomposites with enriched host-guest features tailored for the detection of various chemical and biological samples.  Because of the variety of the topics covered on luminescent nanocomposites in terms of pore structure with designed morphology, compositional variations, surface properties and functionalities, there is a great deal of interests in materials modification to tailor unique and stable luminescent sensors for industrial, environmental, and biomedical applications. 

We invite active scientists and engineers with research interest focused on nanocomposite materials as luminescent probes to contribute to this special issue with original research papers, short communications, and critical reviews.

Prof. Dr. Sofian Kanan
Guest Editor

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• luminescent sensors
• nanocomposites
• fluorophores
• guest-host
• nanoparticles
• luminescent chemosensors
• biosensing and bioimaging
• metal ion detection
• cell tracking

Title: Quantum dots and their nanocomposites as highly sensitive fluorescent sensors for detection of heavy metal ions and toxic pesticides
Authors: Yude Wang
Affiliation: Ynunnan University
Abstract: Quantum dots-based nanomaterials have attracted extensive interests in fluorescence chemical sensors due to excellent luminescence characters, quantum size effect and interface effect, etc. Moreover, the fascinating properties with respect to good chemistry stability, rich surface ion species and wide ligand selectivity are also beneficial to improving the quality of quantum dots. The surface chemistry of fluorescent quantum dots has encouraged the development of multiple probes based on linked various functional groups. In recent years, quantum dots-based nanomaterials have been considered as the preferred sensing materials to efficiently detecting heavy metal ions and toxic pesticides by interacting with various analytes, which shows excellent sensitivity, selectivity, anti-interference as well as reduces the cost of equipment compared with traditional measured methods In this review article, the fundamental principles including the synthesis methods, application filed and sensing mechanism of semiconductor quantum dots and carbon-based quantum dots have been comprehensively discussed. We presented the application of semiconductor QDs, CQDs, GQDs and their nanocomposites as sensors detailly and focused on the properties of various quantum dots to heavy metal ion and toxic pesticides. The latest advances and application perspective of fluorescent sensors based on quantum dots and their nanocomposites are also proposed.

Title: Development of a nanosensor for the evaluation of scale inhibitors and quantification of fouling ions
Authors: Rafael S. Fernandes; , Amanda M. Caldas; Bruno B. Castro; Rosangela C. Balabana
Affiliation: aInstitute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte – UFRN, Natal – RN, Brazil bLeopoldo Américo Miguêz de Mello Research and Development Center – CENPES/PETROBRAS – Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil.
Abstract: In this work, pyrophosphate-modified silver nanoparticles (NPs Ag) were developed for evaluation of polymeric scale inhibitor (carboxymethylcellulose–CMC) and quantification of scale ions (Ca2+, Mg2+). These functionalized nanoparticles have an absorption band in the visible region, with maximum intensity at 406 nm, which can change in the presence of the inhibitor or the fouling ions. The evaluation of Ag NPs response to fouling ions demonstrated that the addition of these ions significantly reduces the intensity of the absorption band. Furthermore, it was observed that the absorption intensity decreases linearly with the concentration of these ions. The response of NPs Ag to the scale inhibitor was evaluated from the regeneration of the absorption signal. When adding scale inhibitor to the mixture NPs Ag + fouling ion (reduced absorption band) it was observed that the signal had been regenerated.