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Turn-on fluorometric and colorimetric probe for hydrogen peroxide based on the in-situ formation of silver ions from a composite made from N-doped carbon quantum dots and silver nanoparticles

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Abstract

The authors describe a fluorometric and colorimetric nanoprobe for H2O2. The detection scheme is based on the in-situ formation of silver(I) ions from a composite consisting of nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). A drastic change occurs both in fluorescence and color of the solution of the N-CQD/AgNPs composite. The fluorescence of composite (with excitation/emission peaking at 320/384 nm) is enhanced on increasing the concentration of H2O2 due to the oxidation of silver metal in the N-CQD/AgNPs to form Ag(I) ions. The latter undergo strong coordination with the nitrogen atoms of the N-CQDs. In-situ formation of Ag(I) ions further results in a change in color of the solution from pale yellow (with a peak at 408 nm) to colorless. Under optimized conditions, the probe gives a fluorometric and colorimetric response in the 10 to 50 μM H2O2 concentration range with a 4.7 μM limit of detection. The probe is highly selective over several potentially interfering ions and agents. It was successfully applied to the determination of H2O2 in spiked samples without prior treatment.

Graphical presentation for specific detection of H2O2 based on the in-situ formation of Ag(I) ions from a composite consisting of silver nanoparticles and nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots.

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Acknowledgements

This work is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21377084) and Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest in China (201503107).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Laxman S. Walekar, Peidong Hu, Feng Liao & Mingce Long

  2. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Nankai University, Wei Jin Road 94, Tianjin, 300071, China

    Xiaoyan Guo

  3. Key Laboratory for Thin Film and Microfabrication of the Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Mingce Long

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  1. Laxman S. Walekar
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Correspondence to Mingce Long.

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Walekar, L.S., Hu, P., Liao, F. et al. Turn-on fluorometric and colorimetric probe for hydrogen peroxide based on the in-situ formation of silver ions from a composite made from N-doped carbon quantum dots and silver nanoparticles. Microchim Acta 185, 31 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2545-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2545-0

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