Highly Efficiency Fluorescent Probe for Mercury Ions Based on (N, S)-Co-Doped Carbon Dots

This work demonstrates the preparation of (N, S)-co-doped fluorescent carbon dots (N, S-CDs) for mercury ions (Hg2+) detection. This new fluorescent probe based on N, S-CDs using dopamine hydrochloride (DA) and L-cysteine (L-Cys) as raw materials was reported for the first time. The resulting N, S-CDs exhibited excellent specificity and selectivity towards Hg2+ and could distinguish them from 26 anions and cations, including Cd2+, Pb2+, and Cr2O72-. The sensor demonstrated high-intensity fluorescence quenching at similar to 457 nm under the Hg2+ presence and the ability to detect Hg2+ in the 0.05-0.5 mu M range with a 9.37 nM detection limit. The innovations of this work are to offer a method for rapid monitoring of Hg2+ in the environment, besides inventing a new fluorescent probe based on N, S-CDs.

Automated summary

This work demonstrates the preparation of (N, S)-co-doped fluorescent carbon dots (N, S-CDs) for mercury ions (Hg2+) detection. The resulting N, S-CDs exhibited excellent specificity and selectivity towards Hg2+ and could distinguish them from 26 anions and cations. The sensor demonstrated high-intensity fluorescence quenching at around 457 nm under the presence of Hg2+ and could detect Hg2+ in the 0.05-0.5 μM range with a 9.37 nM detection limit.