Search Results (7)

Visual detection based on nanozymes has great potential for the rapid detection of metabolites in clinical analysis or home-based health management. In this work, iron and nitrogen co-doped carbon dots (Fe,N-CDs) were conveniently synthesized as a nanozyme for the visual detection of glucose (Glu) or cholesterol (Chol). Using inexpensive and readily available precursors, Fe,N-CDs with peroxidase-like activity were conveniently prepared through a simple hydrothermal method. Co-doping of Fe and N atoms enhanced the catalytic activity of the nanozyme. The nanozyme had a low Michaelis constant (K_m) of 0.23 mM when hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was used as the substrate. Free radical trapping experiments revealed that the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in the nanozyme-catalyzed process were superoxide anion radicals (•O²⁻), which can oxidize colorless 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to generate blue oxidation product (ox-TMB) with characteristics absorbance at 652 nm. Based on this mechanism, a colorimetric sensor was constructed to detect H₂O₂ ranging from 0.1 μM to 200 μM with a detection limit (DL) of 75 nM. In the presence of glucose oxidase (Gox) or Chol oxidase (Chox), Glu or Chol was oxidized, respectively, and generated H₂O₂. Based on this, indirect detection of Glu and Chol was realized with linear detection ranges of 5–160 μM and 2–200 μM and DLs of 2.8 μM and 0.8 μM, respectively. A paper-based visual detection platform was fabricated using Fe,N-CDs as nanozyme ink to prepare testing paper by inkjet printing. Using a smartphone to record the RGB values of the testing paper after the reaction, visual detection of Glu and Chol can be achieved with linear detection ranges of 5–160 μM (DL of 3.3 μM) and 2–200 μM (DL of 1.0 μM), respectively. Full article

Doping with heteroatoms allows the retention of the general characteristics of carbon dots while allowing their physicochemical and photochemical properties to be effectively modulated. In this work, we report the preparation of ultrastable P and N co-doped carbon dots (PNCDs) that can be used for the highly selective detection of Fe³⁺ and the tracking of lysosomes in living cells. Fluorescent PNCDs were facilely prepared via a hydrothermal treatment of ethylenediamine and phytic acid, and they exhibited a high quantum yield of 22.0%. The strong coordination interaction between the phosphorus groups of PNCDs and Fe³⁺ rendered them efficient probes for use in selective Fe³⁺ detection, with a detection limit of 0.39 μM, and we demonstrated their practicability by accurately detecting the Fe³⁺ contents in bio-samples. At the same time, PNCDs exhibited high lysosomal location specificity in different cell lines due to surface lipophilic amino groups, and real-time tracking of the lysosome morphology in HeLa cells was achieved. The present work suggests that the fabrication of heteroatom-doped CDs might be an effective strategy to provide promising tools for cytology, such as organelle tracking. Full article

N and Fe codoped carbon dots (N,Fe-CDs) were fabricated from citric acid, L-glutamic acid and ferric chloride via a hydrothermal method for the photocatalytic removal of S²⁻ from kraft washing effluents (KWE). The N,Fe-CDs were fluorescent nanoparticles (average size of 3.18 nm) and catalyzed the oxidation of S²⁻ following a first-order kinetic model with an activation energy of 33.77 kJ/mol. The N,Fe-CDs tolerated elevated temperatures as high as 80 °C without catalyst deactivation. The N,Fe-CDs catalysts were reusable for at least four cycles, preserving over 90% of the activity. In the treatment of KWE from the kraft pulping of eucalyptus, the concentration of S²⁻ was decreased by the N,Fe-CDs from 1.19 to 0.41 mmol/L in 6 h. Consequently, near complete remediation was obtained in 24 h. In addition, half of the chemical oxygen demand was removed after treatment with 500 mg/L of the N,Fe-CDs. In addition, the present photocatalyst was safe within a concentration of 200 mg/L, as indicated by the acetylcholinesterase inhibition test. Our findings may help develop a cleaner production process for kraft brownstock washing. Full article

Carbon dots (CDs) have recently emerged as a new class of fluorescent nanomaterial that can be prepared and modified in order to determine sensitivity to a variety of chemical and biological analytes. This versatility originates from different strategies of synthesis, top–down or bottom–up, that provide the means to perform heteroatom doping and the modulation of surface- and edge-attached functional groups. In particular, their great affinity with heavy-metal ions in water has stimulated a great number of studies on the response to these toxic species. Although most investigations have exploited the fluorescent emission of CDs, much less has been reported on the variations in optical absorbance, which could be more suitable for colorimetric detection in simple and cheap visual-based devices. Previous studies on top–down undoped CDs have demonstrated how slight modifications in synthesis could turn simultaneous sensitivity to As(III), Cd (II), Cu(II), and Pb(II) into a selective response to Cr(VI), due to exposure of the functional groups on the surface and the formation of hydrogen bonds. In this study, we report on the sensitivity of bottom–up nitrogen-and-sulfur co-doped CDs (NS-CDs) prepared using a simple one-pot hydrothermal method. We show how tuning the pH of the sensing solution greatly reduced the interference effects of Fe(III) and enhanced sensitivity to Cu(II) through the emergence of a distinct absorption band at 660 nm. This was attributed to the formation of cuprammonium complexes through N-containing functional groups. The concurrent response to Co(II) in a different spectral region also suggests the possibility of dual-species multiple sensitivity. The NS-CDs were characterized using TEM, STEM-coupled EDX analysis, NMR, and IR spectroscopy. The response to Cu(II) was linear in the concentration range of 1–100 µM with a limit of detection of 100 nM. Interestingly, the present system neither requires any other reagents nor any previous assay treatment. Full article

This work aims to enhance the value of palm empty fruit bunches (EFBs), an abundant residue from the palm oil industry, as a precursor for the synthesis of luminescent carbon dots (CDs). The mechanism of fIuorimetric sensing using carbon dots for either enhancing or quenching photoluminescence properties when binding with analytes is useful for the detection of ultra-low amounts of analytes. This study revealed that EFB-derived CDs via hydrothermal synthesis exceptionally exhibited luminescence properties. In addition, surface modification for specific binding to a target molecule substantially augmented their PL characteristics. Among the different nitrogen and sulfur (N and S) doping agents used, including urea (U), sulfate (S), p-phenylenediamine (P), and sodium thiosulfate (TS), the results showed that PTS-CDs from the co-doping of p-phenylenediamine and sodium thiosulfate exhibited the highest PL properties. From this study on the fluorimetric sensing of several metal ions, PTS-CDs could effectively detect Fe³⁺ with the highest selectivity by fluorescence quenching to 79.1% at a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.1 µmol L⁻¹. The PL quenching of PTS-CDs was linearly correlated with the wide range of Fe³⁺ concentration, ranging from 5 to 400 µmol L⁻¹ (R² = 0.9933). Full article

In this study, nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon dots (NS-CDs) were investigated for the detection of heavy metals in water through absorption-based colorimetric response. NS-CDs were synthesized by a simple one-pot hydrothermal method and characterized by TEM, STEM-coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, NMR, and IR spectroscopy. Addition of Cu(II) ions to NS-CD aqueous solutions gave origin to a distinct absorption band at 660 nm which was attributed to the formation of cuprammonium complexes through coordination with amino functional groups of NS-CDs. Absorbance increased linearly with Cu(II) concentration in the range 1–100 µM and enabled a limit of detection of 200 nM. No response was observed with the other tested metals, including Fe(III) which, however, appreciably decreased sensitivity to copper. Increase of pH of the NS-CD solution up to 9.5 greatly reduced this interference effect and enhanced the response to Cu(II), thus confirming the different nature of the two interactions. In addition, a concurrent response to Co(II) appeared in a different spectral region, thus suggesting the possibility of dual-species multiple sensitivity. The present method neither requires any other reagents nor any previous assay treatment and thus can be a promising candidate for low-cost monitoring of copper onsite and by unskilled personnel. Full article

The development of efficient and non-toxic photocatalysts with a full spectrum response is a primary strategy in the area of photocatalytically mediated pollutant elimination. Herein, we report the preparation of novel nitrogen and iron co-doped carbon dots/gear-shaped WO₃ (N,Fe-CDs/G-WO₃) with significantly improved broad-spectrum utilization. Characterization results demonstrated that the gear-shaped G-WO₃, decorated by N,Fe-CDs with excellent electron transfer/reservoir properties, possessed abundant oxygen vacancies, had large specific surface areas, had multiple light-reflections and had a narrow band gap. As a result, the N,Fe-CDs/G-WO₃ composite exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of water contaminants under full spectrum irradiation. For example, the photodegradative efficiencies of rhodamine B (RhB) reached 81.4%, 97.1%, and 75% in 2 h, under ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared (UV, vis, and NIR) light irradiation, respectively. Moreover, the N,Fe-CDs/G-WO₃ composite also exhibited an outstanding photocatalytic degradation efficiency for other dyes, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products (PPCPs) like methylene blue (MB), ciprofloxacin (CIP), tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), and oxytetracycline (OTC) (91.1%, 70.5%, 54.5%, and 47.8% in 3 h, respectively). The radical trapping experiments indicated that h⁺ and ·OH were the main reactive oxidative species (ROS), and the conversion between Fe (III) and Fe (II) played a key role in the photocatalytic reactions. Such a N,Fe-CD decorated material with brilliant photocatalytic activity has tremendous potential for application in environmental remediation. Full article