Fluorescence enhanced detection of water in organic solvents by one-pot synthesis of orange-red emissive polymer carbon dots based on 1,8-naphthalenediol

A facile method for fabricating polymer carbon dots (PCDs) with characteristic dual-emission at 570 and 620 nm by 1,8-naphthalenediol in n-propanol solvents was designed. The synthesised PCDs possessed fluorescence enhancement performance toward the water in organic solvents. Based on this peculiar phenomenon, a highly efficient fluorescent probe for water detection in organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide and n-propanol was established with a wide detection range from 0 to 50%. The probe can also be utilised to determine water content in other organic solvents. The practical application was explored by studying the response of PCDs toward the water in various spirit samples. This method may offer a new way of detecting water in organic solvents by PCDs.