Fluorescent N-functionalized carbon nanodots from carboxymethylcellulose for sensing of high-valence metal ions and cell imaging

A convenient and sensitive reversible-fluorescence sensing platform for accurate monitoring of high-valence metal ions is still very challenging. As a green kind of fluorescent carbon nanomaterials, carbon dots (CDs) have captured considerable attention because of the stable fluorescence property and low cost. Herein, we fabricated a type of nitrogen-functionalized carbon dots (N-CDs) from CMC as a fluorescent reversible sensing platform for detecting various high-valence metal ions. N-CDs with a mean size of 2.3 nm were obtained and possessed 22.9% quantum yields (QY). A label-free fluorescent probe for detection of high-valence metal ions (Fe³⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Mn⁷⁺) was established via the fluorescence quenching response. Among them, the detection limit (LOD) toward Fe³⁺ ions reached 0.8 µM. We have explored the quenching mechanism of N-CDs to explain the valence state-related electron-transfer fluorescence quenching between high-valence metal ions and N-CDs. Moreover, the valence state-related fluorescence quenching phenomenon of N-CDs in aqueous solution could be effectively recovered by introducing a reducing agent (Ti³⁺). This “turn off-on” fluorescence recovery system of N-CDs could be applied in different applications covering the selective detection of environmental high-valence metal ions and cellular imaging.

N-CDs were synthesized using simple and fast one-pot hydrothermal treatment, and were successfully applied as sensors for the selective detection of environmental high-valence metal ions and cellular imaging.