Developing a simple synthesis method and expanding the application of carbon dots have attracted increasing attention. In this report, we have developed a facile method to synthesize fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) with the assistance of atmospheric-pressure microplasma. The CDs could be produced within a few minutes with no need of high temperature, external energy input, and multistep procedures. The as-prepared CDs had a relatively uniform size of approximately 2.3 nm. The FTIR spectrum and the XPS analysis showed that carbonyl groups and amide groups exist on the surface of CDs. The CDs showed bright blue luminescence and high stability in high salt concentration and low pH without further modification. A pH-dependent PL behavior was observed and could be applied for pH sensing in the range of 3–14. Moreover, the CDs could be utilized as a reagent capable of detecting U(VI) with a low detection limit and high selectivity.
Xumeng Wu,Qiang Yin,Qiuxiang Huang,Yu Mao,Qinghua Hu,Hongqing Wang
Uranium, a double-edged sword with high-efficiency energy and radioactive toxicity, attracts people to enjoy the advantages by generating power, but at the same time brings potential harm by nuclide migration. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a highly-efficient sensor to monitor uranyl ions in the field. However, the designed processes of the reported sensors are random, time-consuming and difficulty. It is urgent to find a new strategy to rationally, quickly and effectively screen out the required molecule for efficient uranium detection. Herein, with the guidance from the rational design method, the parameter, E gap , was applied to judge the chromatic aberration between the designed PADAP derivate and its uranyl complex. And the optimized structure sensor, 2-((3-bromo-5-(9,9-dioctyl-7-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-9H-fluoren-2-yl)-2-pyridylazo)-5-(diethylamino)phenol (abbr. W1H), was screened and successfully synthesized. W1H exhibited significant color change (red to blue) after binding uranyl ions, and its detection limit for uranium was as low as nanomolar. More meaningfully, the coordination mechanism of W1H toward uranium was clarified by theoretical calculation of the electron cloud density distribution, E bind , and 1 H NMR, IR and MS for the first time. With the more excellent uranyl sensitivity, selectivity , and recyclability , W1H and its colorimetric test strip have been applied to the detection of low-concentration uranium in environmental samples around the uranium tailings, providing a useful on-site method to monitor trace uranium in actual samples.