Graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets: one-step, high-yield synthesis and application for Cu2+ detection

Abstract

In this article we report on the one-step, rapid, high-yield synthesis of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) nanosheets for the first time. The nanosheets were obtained by pyrolyzing a melamine–KBH₄ mixture under Ar. As a fluorosensor for Cu²⁺, the g-C₃N₄ nanosheets exhibit a detection limit as low as 0.5 nM and high selectivity in buffer solutions, and this sensor was applied to the analysis of lake water samples. The electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) behavior of the g-C₃N₄ nanosheets using Na₂S₂O₈ as the coreactant was also studied. Results suggest that the ECL intensity of the g-C₃N₄ nanosheets was linear over concentrations of 0–45 nM, with a detection limit of 1.2 nM for Cu²⁺.