Wang Jiangru,Yu Jialuo,Wang Xiaoyan,Wang Liyan,Li Bowei,Shen Dazhong,Kang Qi,Chen Lingxin
Manganese-doped ZnS quantum dots (ZnS:Mn(II) QDs) were synthesized and modified with L-cysteine (L-Cys) and 6-mercaptonicotinic acid (MNA). This prevents the aggregation of the QDs and makes them available for the interaction with Cu(II) ions via Cu(II)-S interaction. As a result, the fluorescence of the QDs is quenched by Cu(II) due to an electron transfer mechanism. The QDs display two emission peaks under 325 nm excitation, one (being red) peaking at 593 nm, the other (blue) at 412 nm. The red fluorescence is strongly quenched, while the blue fluorescence is not affected. An easily distinguishable color change from orange red to purple can be observed in fluorescence as the concentration of Cu(II) is increased. The probe is selective over commonly encountered other ions. The ratio of fluorescence intensities at 593 and 412 nm increases linearly in the 5 to 500 nM Cu(II) concentration range, and the detection limit is 1.2 nM.
Schematic of the preparation of manganese-doped quantum dots functionalized with L-cysteine and 6-mercaptonicotinic acid for selective and sensitive visual detection of copper ions.
Qinglan Miao,Ji Qi,Yuanyuan Li,Xinxia Fan,Dongmei Deng,Xiaoxia Yan,Haibo He,Liqiang Luo
In this work, zinc-doped carbon dots (Zn-CDs) were anchored on a three-dimensional wheel type paper-based microfluidic chip, and were decorated with 6-mercaptonicotinic acid (MNA) and L-cysteine (L-Cys) for highly sensitive and rapid fluorescence detection of Cu2+. Zn-CDs were first anchored on paper through the amide bonds between the carboxyl groups of the Zn-CDs and the amino groups of the paper. Afterwards, Zn-CDs were decorated with MNA and L-Cys, effectively preventing the Zn-CDs from aggregation. The nitrogen atom on the pyridine ring and the carboxylic acid groups in MNA and L-Cys coordinated with Cu2+ to form a nonfluorescent ground-state complex, causing the fluorescence quenching of the Zn-CDs. The three-dimensional rotary design could simplify the operation process and achieve simultaneous analysis of multiple samples with different concentrations. Under optimal conditions, the fluorescent sensor exhibits linear response for the determination of Cu2+ in the range from 0.1 to 60 μg L−1 with the detection limit (LOD) of 0.018 μg L−1. The proposed strategy provides a novel way for the highly sensitive detection of Cu2+ in a complex water environment.
There is an emerging quest for fabrication of water-soluble fluorescent silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) with long-lasting fluorescent properties and dimensional stability while being sustainable and functional. Thus, a well-known seed-mediated growth strategy has been developed to manufacture AgNCs supported onto carboxyl and aldehyde modified cellulose nanofiber (DATCNF) with ultra-small and intense fluorescence. The DATCNF acts as a reductant, template, and stabilizer while the protective ligand, 2-Mercaptonicotinic Acid (2-H 2 MA), provides AgNCs with luminous characteristic and constrained size of 4.47 nm. The structural feature of 2-H 2 MA also governs the formation and stability of AgNCs, imparting them with hydrophobic nature and steady fluorescence emission in water. This aqueous colloidal suspension (DATCNF-AgNCs) is highly dispersed, photobleaching resistant, and hardly agglomerates. Even after two months of exposure to the sun, the fluorescence intensity had only fallen by 20 %. Furthermore, the aqueous colloidal suspension exhibits outstanding antibacterial property and UV shielding capability, making it suitable as an additive for the production of TCNF films with high UV blocking capacity and high tensile strength. This strategy opens the door to design and fabricate mechanically robust DATCNF-AgNCs composites for luminescent, antimicrobial, and UV protection applications.