Issue 65, 2018

A sensitive fluorescent sensor for the detection of trace water in organic solvents based on carbon quantum dots with yellow fluorescence

Abstract

The quantitative analysis of trace water in organic solvents has always been a research hotspot, and it is still in the development stage and needs to be continuously developed. In this study, a facile and rapid approach was developed for the preparation of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with yellow fluorescence emission and ultrahigh absolute fluorescence quantum yields (92.6%). Compared to traditional organic fluorescent molecules, the preparation of CQDs is simpler, faster and more environmentally friendly. It is found that the fluorescent properties of CQDs are excellent in organic solvents and could be quenched by trace water, which makes them a promising material used without any modification for the detection of water in organic solvents. As a result, the as-prepared CQDs were adopted as fluorescent probes for the detection of water in organic solvents (ethanol, tetrahydrofuran, and 1,4-dioxane). The limit of detection was as low as 0.01%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that CQDs have been used as water sensing fluorescent probes in organic solvents. The possible mechanism for trace water detection of the as-prepared CQDs in organic solvents is attributed to the specific water–fluorophore interaction and partially to the increase in polarity of the solvent caused by an increase in water concentration.

Graphical abstract: A sensitive fluorescent sensor for the detection of trace water in organic solvents based on carbon quantum dots with yellow fluorescence

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 8 2018
Accepted
08 10 2018
First published
01 11 2018
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Adv., 2018,8, 37028-37034

A sensitive fluorescent sensor for the detection of trace water in organic solvents based on carbon quantum dots with yellow fluorescence

J. Wei, H. Li, Y. Yuan, C. Sun, D. Hao, G. Zheng and R. Wang, RSC Adv., 2018, 8, 37028 DOI: 10.1039/C8RA06732E

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