Blue-LED-excited Ce3+-doped alkaline-earth sulfide luminescent nanocrystals for selective and sensitive Fe3+ ions sensing

Novel blue LED excitable Ce3+-doped alkaline-earth sulfide nanocrystals are exploited for selective and sensitive Fe3+ ions sensing in this work. The detection limit is calculated to be as low as 92.5 nM, which is better than most previous ultra-violet light excited fluorescence probes. The decreased radiative probability of the Ce3+: 5d by the NC surface environmental variation activates the sensing capability.

Automated summary

In this work, novel blue LED excitable Ce3+-doped alkaline-earth sulfide nanocrystals were utilized for selective and sensitive Fe3+ ions sensing with a calculated detection limit as low as 92.5 nM, outperforming most previous UV-excited fluorescence probes. The decreased radiative probability of Ce3+: 5d due to surface environmental variation activates the sensing capability.