Spectroscopic detection of Hg2+ in water samples using fluorescent carbon quantum dots as sensing probe

New rout for synthesizing triammonium citrate crystal with unique crystallography and its application in synthesizing nitrogen doped graphene quantum dot

Triammonium citrate crystal (TAC) has many applications in food, pharmaceutical, agricultural and other industries. In this work, TAC crystals were synthesized using a new method and with the least use of materials and tools. This crystal has a unique structure and special and new angles and bonds that were identified by crystallography. This crystal was then used to synthesize nitrogen- doped graphene quantum dot (N-GQD) with hydrothermal method. Synthesized N-GQD has particular morphology, fluorescence and viscosity. Compared with other nitrogen compounds necessary for N-GQDs synthesis, ammonia is much more suitable due to its low toxicity and stability. Synthesized TAC and N-GQD were identified by FT-IR, XRD, TGA, EDS, SEM, crystallography and fluorescence.