Core (Au)-shell (Ag) structure nitrogen dots for the recognition of nitroaniline isomers by surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Selective identification of p-nitroaniline by bromine-mediated polarization of carbon dots

A fluorometric method based on boron, bromide-codoped carbon dots (BBCNs) was developed for the first time for the highly selective detection of p-nitroaniline (PNA) in wastewater samples. It should be noted that the introduction of bromine greatly increases the molecular polarizability of the probe, which can regulate the energy level matching between the probe and PNA, resulting in the interaction between BBCNs and PNA. In the presence of PNA, the fluorescence of BBCNs is obviously quenched and accompanied by a red shift of the fluorescence band, which might be attributed to the formation of aggregates caused by the polar adsorption of BBCNs and PNA. It is beneficial for constructing a highly selective sensing platform for PNA determination compared to its isomers (o-nitroaniline and m-nitroaniline) through atomic bromine-mediated polarization of the BBCNs. With the help of this mechanism, an excellent linear range of 0.5-300 μM with a low detection limit of 0.24 μM toward PNA was obtained. This work further confirms that there is a significant relationship between the nature of doping elements and the optical and physicochemical properties of fluorescent materials.

Core-shell structure DA-CDs/AuNPs for the recognition of fenamidone by surface-enhanced Raman scattering

In this work, a facile synthesis method for dopamine carbon dots-based Au nanoparticles (DA-CDs/AuNPs) by seed gold method was reported as the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) booster. DA-CDs with rich in surface functional groups was synthesized using dopamine, citric acid and ethylenediamine as precursors by a facile hydrothermal method, and can be used as the capping agents and reducing agents for the synthesis of DA-CDs/AuNPs. Due to the electromagnetic "hot spots" effect, DA-CDs/AuNPs with core-shell structure exhibited strong SERS activity. Based on the specific interaction of DA-CDs/AuNPs and fenamidone, a detection method of fenamidone was established with a low detection limit of 0.05 μg/mL. Finally, the SERS sensor was successfully applied to the detection of fenamidone in fruit with recoveries between 90.6 % and 98.7 %. The method here proposed can be reliably applied for fenamidone detection on fruits.

CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dot decorated ZIF-8 MOF: a selective dual recognition fluorometric visual probe for 4-nitroaniline and rhodamine blue

The uses of highly luminescent perovskite quantum dots in real analytical detection were limited by their supersensitive nature. Here, we have designed a CsPbBr3 perovskite based fluorometric sensor by integrating them with a zeolitic imidazole framework (ZIF-8) via an in situ one step technique and established its stability in aqueous and other polar solvents. The CsPbBr3@ZIF-8 luminescence sensor functioned excellently for the trace detection of 4-nitroaniline and rhodamine blue dye molecules with a detection limit value of 8.367 ppb and 0.088 ppm, respectively. A comprehensive investigation found that the quenching of the fluorescence signal occurred via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) for rhodamine blue dye and a H-bonding interaction induced trap density mediated quenching mechanism was responsible for 4-NA detection. The potential of this suggested sensor as a cheap portable test paper probe for analyte detection was also explored. This study introduces CsPbBr3 as a cutting-edge sensing platform for industrial pollutants such as dye molecules and nitroaromatics.

Graphene electrochemical transistors decorated by Ag nanoparticles exhibiting high sensitivity for the detection of paraquat over a wide concentration range

Paraquat (PQ) is a nonselective contact herbicide used in agriculture for the control of broad leaf weeds, which would cause irreversible damage to human organs even at very low concentrations. Therefore, the trace residue detection of PQ in the environment is of vital importance. Here, a novel graphene electrochemical transistor (GECT) for PQ detection is reported for the first time. The key to the device design is the application of a layer of Ag nanoparticle (Ag NP) modified monolayer graphene as the channel layer. Due to the good electrochemical activity of Ag NPs for PQ detection, the device exhibits excellent sensitivity for PQ with the detection limit of 0.068 nM and a wide linear range from 0.1 nM to 5 mM. The GECT sensor also reveals good selectivity toward several common interferents and exhibits satisfactory recoveries for PQ detection when using Chinese cabbage as a simulant to deduce the real detection situation. The GECT sensor not only provides an efficient method for the detection of PQ residues, but also provides an effective grafting platform for the construction of novel high-sensitivity electrochemical sensors.