Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Highly accurate quantitative detection of heavy metals is crucial for preventing environmental pollution and safeguarding public health. To address the demand for sensitive and specific detection of Cu2+ ions, we have developed carbon dots using a simple hydrothermal process. The synthesized carbon dots are highly stable in aqueous media, environmentally friendly, and exhibit strong blue photoluminescence at 440 nm when excited at 352 nm, with a quantum yield of 5.73%. Additionally, the size distribution of the carbon dots ranges from 2.0 to 20 nm, and they feature excitation-dependent emission. They retain consistent optical properties across a wide pH range and under high ionic strength. The photoluminescent probes are selectively quenched by Cu2+ ions, with no interference observed from other metal cations such as Ag+, Ca2+, Cr3+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Hg2+, K+, Mg2+, Sn2+, Pb2+, Sr2+, and Zn2+. The emission of carbon dots exhibits a strong linear correlation with Cu2+ concentration in the range of 0–14 μM via a static quenching mechanism, with a detection limit (LOD) of 4.77 μM in water. The proposed carbon dot sensor is low cost and has been successfully tested for detecting Cu2+ ions in general water samples collected from rivers in Taiwan.
Source: Chemosensors
Authors: Chao-Sheng Chen, Miao-Wei Lin, Chin-Feng Wan
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,413
OpenAlex ID: W7119484191