Nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots from pumpkin for the sensing of nifuratel and temperature

Herein, nitrogen doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) were synthesized using a hydrothermal strategy. The raw materials for the preparation of N-CQDs were sourced from pumpkin and melamine. The N-CQDs suggested fascinating water solubility, favorable UV and salt resistance stability. The fluorescence quantum yield of N-CQDs was carried out to be 16.7 %. The prepared N-CQDs suggested good optical features and favorable blue fluorescence under a UV lamp (365 nm). The as-prepared N-CQDs could be employed as rapid, sensitive and promising fluorescence nanoprobes to detect nifuratel because of static quenching and inter filter effect. For nifuratel detection, the linear range of 0.5–100 μM and detection limit of 0.074 μM were obtained. Furthermore, N-CQDs were subsequently applied to determine nifuratel in river water and Yili milk samples with acceptable experiment results. Significantly, N-CQDs suggested evident temperature-sensitive characteristics and were employed as fluorescent temperature sensing nanoprobes.