Sensitive determination of 4-nitrophenol based on its enhancement of a peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence system containing graphene oxide quantum dots and fluorescein

An enhanced non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor based on the Bi2S3-TiO2 nanocomposite with HNTs for the individual and simultaneous detection of 4-nitrophenol and nitrofurantoin in environmental samples

In the current era of rapid population growth, there has been an increase in resource consumption and the subsequent release of organic pollutants into water bodies by various industries. To address this issue, we have developed a nanocomposite material, Bi2S3-TiO2/HNTs, for electrochemical sensors capable of simultaneously detecting nitrofurantoin (NFT) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) contaminants. The nanocomposite material was synthesized using a novel one-pot sol-gel method, and its structural morphology was characterized using techniques such as FE-SEM, FT-IR, HR-TEM, and XRD. The electrochemical sensor exhibited a remarkably low limit of detection (3.2 nM for NFT and 3.5 nM for 4-NP) and a wide concentration range from 0 μM to 260 μM for both NFT and 4-NP, demonstrating their high sensitivity and accuracy for pollutant detection, and furthermore its potential for real-world application was assessed considering pond and tap water as real samples.

Two-Birds-with-One-Stone Synthesis of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Fluorescent Carbon Nanodots from Dunaliella salina Biomass as 4-Nitrophenol Nanoprobes Based on Inner Filter Effect and First Derivative Redshift of Emission Band

4-Nitrophenol (4-NP) has been listed as a priority pollutant and has also been reported as a human urinary metabolite used as a marker to evaluate exposure to certain pesticides. In the work herein, a solvothermal approach is applied to the one-pot synthesis of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic fluorescent carbon nanodots (CNDs), utilizing the halophilic microalgae Dunaliella salina as a biomass precursor. Both kinds of the produced CNDs showed appreciable optical properties and quantum yields, good photostability and they were capable of probing 4-NP by quenching their fluorescence through the inner filter effect. Interestingly, a prominent 4-NP concentration-dependent redshift of the corresponding emission band of the hydrophilic CNDs was noticed, which was further exploited, for the first time, as an analytical platform. Capitalizing on these properties, analytical methods were developed and applied to a variety of matrixes, such as tap water, treated municipal wastewater and human urine. The method based on the hydrophilic CNDs (λ_ex/λ_em: 330/420 nm) was linear in the range of 0.80-45.0 μM and showed acceptable recoveries (from 102.2 to 113.7%) with relative standard deviations of 2.1% (intra-day) and 2.8% (inter-day) for the quenching-based detection mode and 2.9% (intra-day) and 3.5% (inter-day) for the redshift one. The method based on the hydrophobic CNDs (λ_ex/λ_em: 380/465 nm) was linear in the range of 1.4-23.0 μM, with recoveries laying within the range of 98.2-104.5% and relative standard deviations of 3.3% and 4.0% for intra-day and inter-day assays, respectively.

Nitrogen- and sulfur-doped graphene quantum dots for chemiluminescence

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), as one of the most promising luminescent nanomaterials, have been receiving increasing attention in various applications. However, it is still a challenge to improve their chemiluminescence (CL) quantum efficiency. Herein, the CL emissions of nitrogen- and sulfur-doped GQDs (NS-GQDs), nitrogen-doped GQDs (N-GQDs) and undoped GQDs synthesized through one-pot high-temperature pyrolysis are investigated in their chemical reactions with bis(2-carbopentyloxy-3,5,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate (CPPO) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). A bright blue emission, and yellowish green and yellowish white light from NS-GQDs, N-GQDs and GQDs can be observed, respectively, in the mixture solutions with CPPO and H₂O₂. For the first time, spooling CL spectroscopy was used to investigate the CL reaction mechanisms, illuminant decays and the absolute CL efficiencies of these three GQD systems. Compared with the same system of undoped GQDs, it has been found that the NS-GQDs not only present slower illuminant decay, but also display an absolute CL quantum efficiency of 0.01%, 5-fold enhancement, due to the increase in N and S doping for a well-defined band gap energy. Moreover, three peak wavelengths attributed to intrinsic emission at 425 nm, aggregation-induced emission (AIE) at 575 nm and S-doped emissive surface states at 820 nm are observed for the first time in the NS-GQD system. The CL spectrum of N-GQDs displays two emission peaks at 395 and 575 nm attributed to intrinsic emission and AIE, whereas the CL spectrum of undoped GQDs demonstrates 500 nm and 600 nm peak wavelengths attributed to core emission and AIE. Absolute CL quantum efficiencies from these emissions at these various peaks can be determined quantitatively. This study provides guidance on tuning the surface states of GQD for more conducive injection of electrons and holes, facilitating the production of CL emission, which is beneficial for promoting the development of optical, bioassay and energy conversion applications.

A molecular imprinted fluorescence sensor based on carbon quantum dots for selective detection of 4-nitrophenol in aqueous environments

P-nitrophenol (4-NP) is the most persistent and highly toxic species among nitrophenol. In this work, a novel fluorescent probe for the detection of 4-NP in aqueous environment was constructed by combining the carbon dots (CQDs) with excellent optical properties and the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) with favorable selectivity. The CQDs were synthesized by hydrothermal method using citric acid hydrate as carbon source and o-phenylenediamine as surface modifier, then the molecularly imprinted polymers coating on the CQDs (MIP@CQDs) were obtained by sol-gel imprinting process. The fluorescence quenching of MIP@CQDs is the results of internal filtration effect and dynamic quenching when they encounter with 4-NP. The probe is suitable for the quantitative detection of trace 4-NP in actual aqueous samples, such as tap water, wastewater and seawater, with satisfying recoveries from 95.1 % to 107.8 %, wide detection linear ranges between 0 and 144 μmol/L, low detection limit of 0.41 μmol/L and high selectivity. The detection results are consistent with those of the HPLC method. This work provides a simple, rapid and effective fluorescent detection method for trace 4-NP in aqueous environment.

A peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence recovery system based on the interaction of N-doped graphene oxide nanosheets and an oligopeptide for ultra-sensitive and selective copper(II) ion detection

In this paper, a peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (CL) recovery system based on the interaction of N-doped graphene oxide nanosheets (N-GONs) and an oligopeptide for copper(II) ion detection has been reported. N-GONs as an excellent CL enhancer are prepared by the hydrothermal method using citric acid and ammonia, and the morphology and structure are characterized in detail by TEM, XPS, FT-IR and UV/vis, etc. In the bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate (TCPO) and hydrogen peroxide (TCPO + H₂O₂) CL reaction system, the addition of N-GONs gives a remarkable CL emission, which can be quenched by an oligopeptide composed of ten amino acid residues due to the interaction between the N-GON plane and the oligopeptide strand. While in the presence of copper(II) ion, the quenched CL is recovered gradually along with the addition of copper(II) ion in the system. Based on the above CL reactions, a TCPO + H₂O₂ + N-GONs + oligopeptide CL system is constructed, achieving an ultra-sensitive and selective detection of copper(II) ion in environmental water samples. The detection limit of this method is as low as 0.2 pmol L^-1, which is at least three orders of magnitude lower than other CL methods. The N-GONs and oligopeptide involved in the CL system are environmentally friendly, making it possess potential in the detection of copper(II) ion in environmental water samples.

Eco-friendly non-conjugated polymer dots for chemiluminometric determination of 4-nitrophenol

Polymer dots (PDs) are a new family of quantum dots which their behavior and potential applications have not yet been completely explored. In this study, non-conjugated PDs were synthesized via a simple pyrolysis method and used for the chemiluminescence (CL) assay of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). PDs increase the CL signal of the Ce (IV)-Na₂ SO₃ reaction 39-fold. Using the CL spectrum, it was concluded that the emission at 434 nm was generated by the excited PDs (PDs^* ), which are produced via energy transfer from SO₂ ^* to PDs. Our experiments showed that 4-NP enhanced the CL signal of the Ce (IV)-Na₂ SO₃ -PDs reaction. The mechanism of this effect was explored by obtaining CL, UV-Vis and FT-IR spectra. Due to the high sensitivity and selectivity of the CL system to 4-NP, a probe was designed to determine 4-NP in the linear range of 1.0-500 nmol/L with a detection limit of 0.33 nmol/L. Different spiked real samples were successfully analyzed by this probe.

A new enhanced chemiluminescence reaction based on polymer dots for the determination of metronidazole

Polymer dots (PDs) with non-conjugated functional groups are attracting nanomaterials due to their ease of synthesis, the biocompatibility of precursors, and low toxicity. In this work, PDs with non-conjugated groups were synthesized with a simple and straightforward method by Schiff base reaction. Then their possible application in the chemiluminescence (CL) reactions was explored. Results were shown that PDs increased the CL intensity of the NaIO₄-fluorescein system about 15 times. Regarding the CL mechanism, we proved that the emitting species is fluorescein, which can be excited by the energy transfer from the excited-state PDs. It was observed that CL emission is promoted by the interaction of metronidazole (MND) with the PDs. Therefore, we designed a novel and sensitive assay for MND based on its enhancing effect on NaIO₄-fluorescein-PDs CL system. The introduced assay showed a linear response in the range of 5.0-300 nM with a detection limit of 1.5 nM. The method was used for the determination of MND in spiked plasma samples.

Highly sensitive and selective determination of p-nitrophenol at an interpenetrating networks structure of self-assembled rod-like lanthanum hydroxide-oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposite

In this study, a novel electrochemical sensor based on self-assembled rod-like lanthanum hydroxide-oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (La(OH)₃-OxMWCNTs) nanocomposite was developed for sensitive determination of p-nitrophenol (p-NP). The La(OH)₃-OxMWCNTs nanocomposite with an interpenetrating networks structure was characterized by field emission electron microscope (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were performed to study the electrochemical behaviors of La(OH)₃-OxMWCNTs modified glassy carbon electrode (La(OH)₃-OxMWCNTs/GCE). The La(OH)₃-OxMWCNTs/GCE was used for sensitive determination of p-NP by CV and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). Under the optimum conditions, the peak currents of LSV versus the concentrations of p-NP in the range 1.0-30.0 μmol L^-1 showed a good linear relationship (R²=0.9971), and the limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 0.27 μmol L^-1 (signal-to-noise ratio of 3, S/N=3). The recoveries of p-NP in real samples of industrial wastewater and Xiangjiang water at La(OH)₃-OxMWCNTs/GCE were in the range of 95.62-110.75% with relative standard deviation (RSD) in the range of 1.65-3.85%. The intra-day and inter-day precisions were estimated to be less than 2.76% (n= 5), indicating that La(OH)₃-OxMWCNTs/GCE possessed highly stability. In addition, La(OH)₃-OxMWCNTs/GCE sensor showed good anti-interference ability for determination of p-NP in aqueous mixtures containing high concentrations of inorganic and organic interferents, and a decrease of oxidation peak currents by less than 3.57% relative to the initial levels indicated it possessed excellent selectivity. Therefore, La(OH)₃-OxMWCNTs/GCE could be used as a fast, selective and sensitive electrochemical sensor platform for the selective determination and quantification of aqueous p-NP.

A highly selective chemiluminescent probe for the detection of chromium(VI)

In present work, rhodamine B hydrazide and rhodamine 6G hydrazide were synthesized and the chemiluminescence performance has been investigated. Based on the chemiluminescence of rhodamine 6G hydrazide‑chromium(VI), a selective and sensitive method for the direct detection of chromium(VI) was developed. The chemiluminescence intensity was linearly related to the concentration of chromium(VI) in the range of 2.60×10^-8-8.00×10^-6mol/L with a correlation coefficient of r=0.998 and a detection limit of 1.4×10^-8mol/L (S/N=3). The results indicated rhodamine 6G hydrazide was an excellent chemiluminescent probe for chromium(VI) without reduction of chromium(VI) to chromium(III). A possible mechanism of CL emission was also suggested.

Recent progress in two-dimensional inorganic quantum dots

This review critically summarizes recent progress in the categories, synthetic routes, properties, functionalization and applications of 2D materials-based quantum dots (QDs).