Differentiation of multi-metal ions based on fluorescent dual-emission carbon nanodots†
Abstract
A new fluorescent nanosensor for the selective determination and differentiation of Fe3+, Bi3+ and Al3+ was reported based on dual-emission carbon nanodots (DECNDs), which contained blue emitters (λex = 315 nm, λem = 386 nm) and yellow emitters (λex = 365 nm, λem = 530 nm). In this assay, Fe3+ could quench the fluorescence of the blue emitters; Bi3+ and Al3+ could be differentiated by the yellow emitters, such as the fluorescence dropping for Bi3+, and the blue-shifted emission upon the addition of Al3+ with signal amplification. The different responses were considered to be associated with the various ligands on the two emitters. Moreover, this sensing system also exhibited good sensitivity and selectivity. Finally, the present method was used to detect Fe3+, Bi3+ and Al3+ in common drugs.