CdTe Quantum Dots-Electrospun Nanofibers Assembly for Visual and Portable Detection of Cu2+

In this work, electrospun nanofibers (NFs) with good moisture-resistance were prepared by electrospinning technology, and further assembled with CdTe quantum dots (CdTe QDs). The results of scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and confocal fluorescence microscopy showed that the CdTe QDs with strong fluorescence were uniformly assembled on the surface of electrospun NFs after the electrostatic adsorption for 90 min at pH 7.2. Under 365 nm excitation, the CdTe QDs-NFs assembly presented red fluorescence, which could be significantly quenched by copper ion (Cu 2+ ), and the fluorescence quenching degree of CdTe QDs-NFs assembly showed a good linear relationship with Cu 2+ concentration in the range of 0.08–800 μmol/L, and the detection limit was 11.1 nmol/L. This method had advantages of simplicity and high selectivity, and was successfully applied to the visualization and portable detection of Cu 2+ in environmental water samples.