Sensitive photoluminescent detection of Cu2+ in real samples using CdS quantum dots in combination with a Cu2+-reducing reaction

Excellent fluorescence detection of Cu2+in water system using N-acetyl-L-cysteines modified CdS quantum dots as fluorescence probe

View of the negative influence of metal ions on natural environment and human health, fast and quantitative detection of metals ions in water systems is significant. Ultra-small grain size CdS quantum dots (QDs) modified with N-acetyl-L-cysteines (NALC) (NALC-CdS QDs) are successfully prepared via a facile hydrothermal route. Based on the changes of fluorescence intensity of NALC-CdS QDs solution after adding metal ions, the fluorescence probe made from the NALC-CdS QDs is developed to detect metal ions in water systems. Among various metal ions, the fluorescence of NALC-CdS QDs effectively quenched by the addition of Cu²⁺, the probe shows high sensitivity and selectivity for detecting Cu²⁺in other interferential metal ions coexisted system. Importantly, the fluorescence intensity of NALC-CdS QDs changes upon the concentration of Cu²⁺, the probe displays an excellent linear relationship between the fluorescence quenching rate and the concentration of Cu²⁺in ranging from 1 to 25μM. Besides, the detected limitation of the probe towards Cu²⁺as low as 0.48μM. The measurement of Cu²⁺in real water sample is also carried out using the probe. The results indicate that NALC-CdS QDs fluorescence probe may be a promising candidate for quantitative Cu²⁺detection in practical application.

CdSe quantum dots capped with a deep eutectic solvent as a fluorescent probe for copper(II) determination in various drinks

The present study shows that copper(II) ions can be determined with a new fluorescent probe that is based on the use of CdSe quantum dots capped with deep eutectic solvent (DES-CdSe QDs). The capped QDs were prepared in aqueous phase by a one-step procedure under ambient atmosphere using selenium dioxide as a stable precursor for selenium, and ascorbic acid as non-toxic reducing agent. The deep eutectic solvent is composed of choline chloride and thioglycolic acid and acts as stabilizing and functionalizing agent. The fluorescent probe undergoes an increase in the fluorescence intensity (with excitation/emission wavelengths at 380/560 nm) in the presence of Cu(II). Other ions display no significant effect on fluorescence. The effects of sample pH value, concentration of buffer, and volume of QDs solution were optimized by response surface methodology using a Box-Behnken statistical design. Under the optimal conditions, the response of the probe is linear in the 10-600 nM Cu(II) concentration range, with a 5.3 nM limit of detection. This is lower than the allowable maximum Cu(II) concentration in drinking water. The relative standard deviation of the method for five replicate measurements of Cu(II) at a 100 nM concentration level is 2.0%. The probe was successfully applied to the determination of Cu(II) in various drinks. Graphical abstractSchematic representation of a fluorometric method for the determination of Cu(II) at nanomolar concentration levels. The fluorescent system consists of deep eutectic solvent-capped cadmium selenide quantum dots (DES-CdSe QDs). Fluorescence is strongly enhanced by copper(II).

Capped cadmium sulfide quantum dots with a new ionic liquid as a fluorescent probe for sensitive detection of florfenicol in meat samples

The new ionic liquid capped CdS quantum dots (IL-CdS QDs) as a fluorescent probe was successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method in a one step process and used for the facile and sensitive determination of florfenicol (FLF) in aqueous media. The new ionic liquid 3-(2-[(5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)thio]ethyl)-1-methyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium chloride (IL) was synthesized by introducing 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol as a ligand onto the alkyl chain of the 1-chloroethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ILs. This task specific ionic liquid reagent was used for the capping of CdS QDs which played the role of recognition element of FLF. The IL-CdS QDs were characterized by Ultra Violet-Visible absorption -spectroscopy (UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Quenching of fluorescence intensity of the IL-CdS QDs was in proportion to the addition of FLF concentration. Under the optimum conditions, the fluorescence intensity ratio of IL-CdS QDs in the presence and absence of FLF versus FLF concentrations gave a linear response according to the Stern-Volmer equation from 0.1 to 20 μg mL^-1 (0.3 to 56 μmol L^-1) with a limit of detection 0.035 μg mL^-1 (0.098 μmol L^-1). The developed method was applied to the determination of FLF in fish and chicken meats with satisfactory results. This method revealed some advantages such as high sensitivity, precision and wide linear range to FLF. The proposed method can be utilized for rapid screening the quality of meat products.

Synthesis of N-acetyl-l-cysteine capped Mn:doped CdS quantum dots for quantitative detection of copper ions

In this work, a new assembled copper ions sensor based on the Mn metal-enhanced fluorescence of N-acetyl-l-cysteine protected CdS quantum dots (NAC-Mn:CdS QDs) was developed. The NAC and Mn:CdS QDs nanoparticles were assembled into NAC-Mn:CdS QDs complexes through the formation of CdS and MnS bonds. As compared to NAC capped CdS QDs, higher fluorescence quantum yields of NAC-Mn:CdS QDs was observed, which is attributed to the surface plasmon resonance of Mn metal. In addition, the fluorescence intensity of as-formed complexes weakened in the presence of copper ions. The decrease in fluorescence intensity presented a linear relationship with copper ions concentration in the range from 0.16-3.36μM with a detection limit of 0.041μM . The characterization of as-formed QDs was analyzed by photoluminescence (PL), ultra violet-visible (UV-vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) respectively. Furthermore, the recoveries and relative standard deviations of Cu²⁺ spiked in real water samples for the intra-day and inter-day analyses were 88.20-117.90, 95.20-109.90, 0.80-5.80 and 1.20-3.20%, respectively. Such a metal-enhanced QDs fluorescence system may have promising application in chemical and biological sensors.

Fluorescent nanoprobes for sensing and imaging of metal ions: recent advances and future perspectives

Recent advances in nanoscale science and technology have generated nanomaterials with unique optical properties. Over the past decade, numerous fluorescent nanoprobes have been developed for highly sensitive and selective sensing and imaging of metal ions, both in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent development of the design and optical properties of the different classes of fluorescent nanoprobes based on noble metal nanomaterials, upconversion nanoparticles, semiconductor quantum dots, and carbon-based nanomaterials. We further detail their application in the detection and quantification of metal ions for environmental monitoring, food safety, medical diagnostics, as well as their use in biomedical imaging in living cells and animals.

Utilization of reduced graphene oxide/cadmium sulfide-modified carbon cloth for visible-light-prompt photoelectrochemical sensor for copper (II) ions

A newly developed CdS/rGO/CC electrode was prepared based on a flexible carbon cloth (CC) substrate with cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The CdS was synthesized using an aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) method, and the graphene oxide was thermally reduced on the modified electrode surface. The existence of rGO in the CdS-modified electrode increased the photocurrent intensity of the CdS/rGO/CC-modified electrode by three orders of magnitude, compared to that of the CdS/ITO electrode and two orders of magnitude higher than the CdS/CC electrode. A new visible-light-prompt photoelectrochemical sensor was developed based on the competitive binding reaction of Cu(2+) and CdS on the electrode surface. The results showed that the effect of the Cu(2+) on the photocurrent response was concentration-dependent over the linear ranges of 0.1-1.0 μM and 1.0-40.0 μM with a detection limit of 0.05 μM. The results of a selectivity test showed that this modified electrode has a high response toward Cu(2+) compared to other heavy metal ions. The proposed CdS/rGO/CC electrode provided a significantly high potential current compared to other reported values, and could be a practical tool for the fast, sensitive, and selective determination of Cu(2+).

Surface functionalized fluorescent CdS QDs: selective fluorescence switching and quenching by Cu(2+) and Hg(2+) at wide pH range

Fluorescent CdS QDs surface functionalized with organic functional unit, N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-cysteine (L), has been synthesized using simple wet chemical approach in a single step. The as-prepared L-CdS QDs showed good fluorescence at 542 nm. Fluorescence sensor studies of L-CdS QDs showed selective fluorescence switching (542-600 nm) for Cu(2+) ions and quenching for Hg(2+) ions in aqueous solution. High selectivity of L-CdS QDs for Cu(2+) ions have been confirmed by interference studies. Interestingly, L-CdS QDs showed enhancement in the fluorescence intensity (4-fold) upon reducing pH from 2.0 to 10.0 without changing λmax. Importantly, selective fluorescent switching and quenching for Cu(2+) and Hg(2+) was observed from 2.0 to 10.0 pH range. The practical application of L-CdS QDs fluorescence sensing for Cu(2+) and Hg(2+) have also been demonstrated in real samples such as river, pond, tap and ground water.

Mn-doped CdS/ZnS/CdS QD-based fluorescent nanosensor for rapid, selective, and ultrasensitive detection of copper(ii) ion

Energy levels of Mn-doped QD-based nanosensor and the quenching mechanism of the nanosensor by Cu²⁺.

Bioinspired, direct synthesis of aqueous CdSe quantum dots for high-sensitive copper(II) ion detection

Luminescent CdSe semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), which are coated with a denatured bovine serum albumin (dBSA) shell, have been directly synthesized via a bioinspired approach. The dBSA coated CdSe QDs are ultrasmall (d < 2.0 nm) with a narrow size distribution and exhibit a strong green fluorescent emission at about 525 nm. They can be stored for months at room temperature and possess excellent stability against ultraviolet irradiation, high salt concentration, and a wide physiological range of pH. Systematic experimental investigations have shown the contribution of dBSA with free cysteine residues for both their effective ion chelating and surface passivating interactions during the formation and stabilization of CdSe QDs. The luminescent QDs are used for copper(II) ion detection due to their highly sensitive and selective fluorescence quenching response to Cu(2+). The concentration dependence of the quenching effect can be best described by the typical Stern-Volmer equation in a linearly proportional concentration of Cu(2+) ranging from 10 nM to 7.5 μM with a detection limit of 5 nM. As confirmed by various characterization results, a possible quenching mechanism is given: Cu(2+) ions are first reduced to Cu(+) by the dBSA shell and then chemical displacement between Cu(+) and Cd(2+) is performed at the surface of the ultrasmall metallic core to impact the fluorescence performance.

Semicondutor quantum dots-based metal ion probes

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) exhibit unique optical and photophysical properties that offer significant advantages over organic dyes as optical labels for chemo/bio-sensing. This review addresses the methods for metal ion detection with QDs, including photoluminescent, electrochemiluminescent, photoelectrochemical, and electrochemical approaches. The main mechanisms of direct interaction between QDs and metal ions which lead to photoluminescence being either off or on, are discussed in detail. These direct interactions provide great opportunities for developing simple yet effect metal ion probes. Different methods to design the chemically-modified QD hybrid structures through anchoring metal ion-specific groups onto the surface of QDs are summarized. Due to the spatial separation of the luminescence center and analyte recognition sites, these chemically-modified QDs offer greatly improved sensitivity and selectivity for metal ions. Several interesting applications of QD-based metal ion probes are presented, with specific emphasis on cellular probes, coding probes and sensing with logic gate operations.