Silicon doped graphene quantum dots combined with ruthenium(III) ions as a fluorescent probe for turn-on detection of triclosan

Herein, a novel fluorescent probe was developed for the selective and sensitive detection of triclosan (TCS), which is based on turn-on fluorescence of quenched nitrogen silicon doped graphene quantum dot and ruthenium(III) ion (Si-GQDs/Ru3+) systems. Ru3+ is combined with Si-GQDs which thereby quenches the fluorescence, while the Si-GQDs/Ru3+ complex can be dissociated after the addition of TCS, resulting in fluorescence turn-on. The recovered fluorescence intensity was proportional to the concentration of TCS. The linear range of the probe for TCS detection was 500–25 000 ng L−1, with a low detection limit of 173 ng L−1. This detection platform has been successfully applied for the detection of TCS in both toothpaste and water samples.