Synthesis of luminescent carbon dots for selectivity study toward metal ions

Carbon dots (CDs) are a novel class of nanomaterials and one of the most important luminescent NPs that have drawn considerable attention in optical sensing [1,2]. We used hydrothermal treatment for the synthesis of three kinds of CDs including ethanolamine-CDs, urea-CDs and ethylenediamine-CDs for selectivity investigation. In this system, the fluorescence quenching and enhancement of the nanostructures in presence of metal ions were considered as the analytical signals. Herein we used various CDs for quantitative analysis of metal ions. We have seen the different responses for metal ions toward various NPs. Calibration curve has been drawn for metals ions toward different CDs. These ions have different responses toward various NPs. Mercury(II) has linear dynamic ranges between 5-25-with urea-CDs, 10-160 µM with ethylenediamine-CDs and 10-100 µMwith ethanolamine-CDs. Iron(III) has linear dynamic ranges 10-130 µM with Urea-CDs,10-700 µM with ethylenediamine-CDs and 10-80µM with ethanolamine-CDs. Cu(II) Ions has linear dynamic ranges between 10-180 µM with urea-CDs, 10-100 µM with ethylenediamine-CDs.