Highly fluorescent N doped C-dots as sensor for selective detection of Hg2+ in beverages

In this work, nitrogen doped carbon dots (NCDs) were synthesized through one step hydrothermal reaction using citric acid and ethylenediamine as precursors. The prepared NCDs exhibit high quantum yield of 67.4%, good stability, excellent selectivity and sensitivity. It was found that the NCDs have potential as a fluorescence sensor for the detection of Hg2+. Under optimal conditions, good linearity between the change in NCDs fluorescence intensity and Hg2+ concentration was obtained in the range of 0.3 to 2.0 lM with a detection limit at 0.24 lM. The possible detection mechanism was static quenching of NCDs by Hg2+. The established method was successfully applied to the determination of Hg2+ in beverage samples. The results indicated that the NCDs-based sensor has potential for detection of Hg2+ in real beverage sample. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, nitrogen doped carbon dots were synthesized and demonstrated potential application in detecting Hg2+. The method was successfully applied to determine Hg2+ in beverage samples, indicating the potential of NCDs-based sensor for real beverage samples detection.