Preparation of highly photoluminescent sulfur-doped carbon dots for Fe(III) detection

Sulfur-doped carbon dots (S-doped C-dots)were synthesized using a simple and straightforward hydrothermal method. The as-prepared S-doped C-dots exhibit significant fluorescence quantum yield (67%) and unique emission behavior. The spherical S-doped C-dots have an average diameter of 4.6 nm and the fluorescence of S-doped C-dots can be effectively and selectively quenched by Fe3+ ions. Thus, S-doped C-dots were applied as probes toward Fe3+ detection, exhibiting a limit of detection of 0.1 mu M.