Front. Chem. Sci. Eng. All Journals
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Simplistic hydrothermal synthesis approach for fabricating photoluminescent carbon dots and its potential application as an efficient sensor probe for toxic lead(II) ion detection

  • Trisita Ghosh 1 ,
  • Rajkumar Sahoo 2 ,
  • Suman Kumar Ghosh 1 ,
  • Pallab Banerji 3 ,
  • Narayan Ch. Das , 1
Expand
  • 1. Rubber Technology Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India
  • 2. Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India
  • 3. Materials Science Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India
ncdas@rtc.iitkgp.ac.in

Received date: 20 Jun 2022

Accepted date: 23 Aug 2022

Published date: 15 May 2023

Copyright

2023 Higher Education Press

Abstract

The past decade has witnessed a variety of members of the carbon family along with exposure of carbon dots due to their magnificent properties in sensing, bioimaging, catalytic applications, biomedical fields, and so on. Herein, we report the simple hydrothermal method to fabricate photoluminescent doped carbon quantum dots for the detection of noxious lead(II) ions. Lead(II) ion is very venomous for both the environment and human health for which its detection is demanded area in the research field. The as-prepared carbon dots show excellent photostability, low toxicity and significant photoluminescence properties along with good water solubility. Along with these properties, carbon dots have a quantum yield of approximately 15%. In the practical field of application, these carbon dots have been used as sensing probes for the detection of lead(II) ions with a detection limit of 60 nmol·L–1. The fluorescence intensity of carbon dots was remarkably quenched in the presence of the lead(II) ion selectively among all the tested metal ions. Furthermore, we have studied the Stern–Volmer relationship for lead(II) quenching along with the explanation of the probable quenching mechanism. Ability of the doped carbon dots in heavy metal ions sensing in an environmental sample was demonstrated.

Cite this article

Trisita Ghosh, Rajkumar Sahoo, Suman Kumar Ghosh, Pallab Banerji, Narayan Ch. Das. Simplistic hydrothermal synthesis approach for fabricating photoluminescent carbon dots and its potential application as an efficient sensor probe for toxic lead(II) ion detection[J]. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 2023, 17(5): 536-547. DOI: 10.1007/s11705-022-2239-y

Acknowledgements

NCD would like to thank the Scheme for Transformational and Advanced Research in Science (STARS) (MoE-STARS/STARS-1/641) of the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD), India for the financial support. The authors also acknowledge the Central Research Facility, IIT Kharagpur.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11705-022-2239-y and is accessible for authorized users.
1
Hu Y, Wu K, Zhang F, Zhou H, Qi L. Hierarchical MnO@C hollow nanospheres for advanced lithium-ion battery anodes. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 2019, 2(1): 429–439

DOI

2
Ehtesabi H, Roshani S, Bagheri Z, Yaghoubi-Avini M. Carbon dots-sodium alginate hydrogel: a novel tetracycline fluorescent sensor and adsorber. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2019, 7(5): 103419

DOI

3
Xu X, Ray R, Gu Y, Ploehn H J, Gearheart L, Raker K, Scrivens W A. Electrophoretic analysis and purification of fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotube fragments. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2004, 126(40): 12736–12737

DOI

4
Sun Y P, Zhou B, Lin Y, Wang W, Fernando K S, Pathak P, Meziani M J, Harruff B A, Wang X, Wang H, Luo P G, Yang H, Kose M E, Chen B, Veca L M, Xie S Y. Quantum-sized carbon dots for bright and colorful photoluminescence. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2006, 128(24): 7756–7757

DOI

5
Mallakpour S, Behranvand V, Mallakpour F. Adsorptive performance of alginate/carbon nanotube-carbon dot-magnesium fluorohydroxyapatite hydrogel for methylene blue-contaminated water. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2021, 9(2): 105170

DOI

6
Ge J, Shen Y, Wang W, Li Y, Yang Y. N-doped carbon dots for highly sensitive and selective sensing of copper ion and sulfide anion in lake water. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2021, 9(2): 105081

DOI

7
Ganguly S, Das P, Maity P P, Mondal S, Ghosh S, Dhara S, Das N C. Green reduced graphene oxide toughened semi-IPN monolith hydrogel as dual responsive drug release system: rheological, physicomechanical, and electrical evaluations. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2018, 122(29): 7201–7218

DOI

8
Atchudan R, Edison T N, Chakradhar D, Perumal S, Shim J J, Lee Y R. Facile green synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon dots using Chionanthus retusus fruit extract and investigation of their suitability for metal ion sensing and biological applications. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2017, 246: 497–509

DOI

9
Das P, Ganguly S, Banerjee S, Das N C. Graphene based emergent nanolights: a short review on the synthesis, properties and application. Research on Chemical Intermediates, 2019, 45(7): 3823–3853

DOI

10
da Silva A H Junior, Macuvele D L, Riella H G, Soares C, Padoin N. Polymeric blends of carboxymethyl cellulose and sodium alginate containing functionalized carbon dots result in stable and efficient fluorescent films for silver and iron(III) sensing. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2021, 9(4): 105728

DOI

11
Das P, Ganguly S, Mondal S, Ghorai U K, Maity P P, Choudhary S, Gangopadhyay S, Dhara S, Banerjee S, Das N C. Dual doped biocompatible multicolor luminescent carbon dots for bio labeling, UV-active marker and fluorescent polymer composite. Luminescence, 2018, 33(6): 1136–1145

DOI

12
Das P, Ganguly S, Bose M, Mondal S, Choudhary S, Gangopadhyay S, Das A K, Banerjee S, Das N C. Zinc and nitrogen ornamented bluish white luminescent carbon dots for engrossing bacteriostatic activity and Fenton based bio-sensor. Materials Science and Engineering C, 2018, 88: 115–129

DOI

13
Maruthapandi M, Natan M, Jacobi G, Banin E, Luong J H, Gedanken A. Antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus of colloidal polydopamine prepared by carbon dot stimulated polymerization of dopamine. Nanomaterials, 2019, 9(12): 1731

DOI

14
Das P, Ganguly S, Mondal S, Bose M, Das A K, Banerjee S, Das N C. Heteroatom doped photoluminescent carbon dots for sensitive detection of acetone in human fluids. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2018, 266: 583–593

DOI

15
Atchudan R, Edison T N, Perumal S, Muthuchamy N, Lee Y R. Hydrophilic nitrogen-doped carbon dots from biowaste using dwarf banana peel for environmental and biological applications. Fuel, 2020, 275: 117821

DOI

16
Maruthapandi M, Nagvenkar A P, Perelshtein I, Gedanken A. Carbon-dot initiated synthesis of polypyrrole and polypyrrole@CuO micro/nanoparticles with enhanced antibacterial activity. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 2019, 1(5): 1181–1186

DOI

17
Atchudan R, Edison T N, Aseer K R, Perumal S, Karthik N, Lee Y R. Highly fluorescent nitrogen-doped carbon dots derived from Phyllanthus acidus utilized as a fluorescent probe for label-free selective detection of Fe3+ ions, live cell imaging and fluorescent ink. Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 2018, 99: 303–311

DOI

18
Sarkar N, Sahoo G, Das R, Prusty G, Swain S K. Carbon quantum dot tailored calcium alginate hydrogel for pH responsive controlled delivery of vancomycin. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2017, 109: 359–371

DOI

19
Atchudan R, Edison T N, Perumal S, Vinodh R, Lee Y R. Betel-derived nitrogen-doped multicolor carbon dots for environmental and biological applications. Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2019, 296: 111817

DOI

20
Deng L, Yang Z, Li R, Chen B, Jia Q, Zhu Y, Xia Y. Graphene-reinforced metal-organic frameworks derived cobalt sulfide/carbon nanocomposites as efficient multifunctional electrocatalysts. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 2021, 15(6): 1487–1499

DOI

21
Lu D, Tao R, Wang Z. Carbon-based materials for photodynamic therapy: a mini-review. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 2019, 13(2): 310–323

DOI

22
Atchudan R, Edison T N, Lee Y R. Nitrogen-doped carbon dots originating from unripe peach for fluorescent bioimaging and electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2016, 482: 8–18

DOI

23
Ashree J, Wang Q, Chao Y. Glyco-functionalised quantum dots and their progress in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 2020, 14(3): 365–377

DOI

24
Feng S H, Li G H. Hydrothermal and Solvothermal Syntheses. 2nd ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2017, 73–104

25
Hakonen A, Strömberg N. Fluorescence and naked-eye detection of Pb2+ in drinking water using a low-cost ionophore based sensing scheme. Chemosensors, 2018, 6(4): 1–7

DOI

26
Ansi V A, Renuka N K. Table sugar derived carbon dot—a naked eye sensor for toxic Pb2+ ions. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2018, 264: 67–75

DOI

27
Lan G Y, Huang C C, Chang H T. Silver nanoclusters as fluorescent probes for selective and sensitive detection of copper ions. Chemical Communications, 2010, 46(8): 1257–1259

DOI

28
Jung H S, Kwon P S, Lee J W, Kim J I, Hong C S, Kim J W, Yan S, Lee J Y, Lee J H, Joo T, Kim J S. Coumarin-derived Cu2+-selective fluorescence sensor: synthesis, mechanisms, and applications in living cells. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2009, 131(5): 2008–2012

DOI

29
Kim T H, Wang W, Li Q. Advancement in materials for energy-saving lighting devices. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 2012, 6(1): 13–26

DOI

30
Lee H U, Park S Y, Park E S, Son B, Lee S C, Lee J W, Lee Y C, Kang K S, Kim M I, Park H G, Choi S, Huh Y S, Lee S-Y, Lee K-B, Oh Y-K, Lee J. Photoluminescent carbon nanotags from harmful cyanobacteria for drug delivery and imaging in cancer cells. Scientific Reports, 2014, 4(1): 1–7

31
Yang Z, Xu M, Liu Y, He F, Gao F, Su Y, Wei H, Zhang Y. Nitrogen-doped, carbon-rich, highly photoluminescent carbon dots from ammonium citrate. Nanoscale, 2014, 6(3): 1890–1895

DOI

32
Wu Z L, Gao M X, Wang T T, Wan X Y, Zheng L L, Huang C Z. A general quantitative pH sensor developed with dicyandiamide N-doped high quantum yield graphene quantum dots. Nanoscale, 2014, 6(7): 3868–3874

DOI

33
Gunture D C, Kaushik J, Garg A K, Sonkar S K. Pollutant-soot-based nontoxic water-soluble onion-like nanocarbons for cell imaging and selective sensing of toxic Cr(VI). ACS Applied Bio Materials, 2020, 3(6): 3906–3913

DOI

34
Schneider J, Reckmeier C J, Xiong Y, von Seckendorff M, Susha A S, Kasák P, Rogach A L. Molecular fluorescence in citric acid-based carbon dots. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2017, 121(3): 2014–2022

DOI

35
De B, Karak N. A green and facile approach for the synthesis of water soluble fluorescent carbon dots from banana juice. RSC Advances, 2013, 3(22): 8286–8290

DOI

36
Fan L J, Zhang Y, Murphy C B, Angell S E, Parker M F, Flynn B R, Jones W E Jr. Fluorescent conjugated polymer molecular wire chemosensors for transition metal ion recognition and signaling. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 2009, 253(3-4): 410–422

DOI

37
Liu J, Lu Y. Stimuli-responsive disassembly of nanoparticle aggregates for light-up colorimetric sensing. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2005, 127(36): 12677–12683

DOI

38
Wee S S, Ng Y H, Ng S M. Synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots via simple acid hydrolysis of bovine serum albumin and its potential as sensitive sensing probe for lead(II) ions. Talanta, 2013, 116: 71–76

DOI

39
Shammala F A. Facile fabrication of a low-cost lignosulfonate-graphene oxide-polyaniline ternary nanocomposite for the highly efficient removal of Pb(II) and Cr((VI) ions from aqueous solutions. Insights in Chemistry and Biochemistry, 2020, 1(3): 1–12

DOI

40
Chen Y, Rosenzweig Z. Luminescent CdS quantum dots as selective ion probes. Analytical Chemistry, 2002, 74(19): 5132–5138

DOI

41
Esteve-Turrillas F A, Abad-Fuentes A. Applications of quantum dots as probes in immunosensing of small-sized analytes. Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 2013, 41: 12–29

DOI

42
Kumar A, Chowdhuri A R, Laha D, Mahto T K, Karmakar P, Sahu S K. Green synthesis of carbon dots from Ocimum sanctum for effective fluorescent sensing of Pb2+ ions and live cell imaging. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2017, 242: 679–686

DOI

43
Siripinyanond A, Worapanyanond S, Shiowatana J. Field-flow fractionation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: an alternative approach to investigate metal-humic substances interaction. Environmental Science & Technology, 2005, 39(9): 3295–3301

DOI

44
Wang H, Ou L M, Suo Y, Yu H Z. Computer-readable DNAzyme assay on disc for ppb-level lead detection. Analytical Chemistry, 2011, 83(5): 1557–1563

DOI

45
Fu X, Lou T, Chen Z, Lin M, Feng W, Chen L. “Turn-on” fluorescence detection of lead ions based on accelerated leaching of gold nanoparticles on the surface of graphene. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2012, 4(2): 1080–1086

DOI

46
Mehta V N, Solanki J N, Kailasa S K. Selective visual detection of Pb(II) ion via gold nanoparticles coated with a dithiocarbamate-modified 4′-aminobenzo-18-crown-6. Mikrochimica Acta, 2014, 181(15): 1905–1915

DOI

47
Kang D H, Jung H S, Ahn N, Yang S M, Seo S, Suh K Y, Chang P S, Jeon N L, Kim J, Kim K. Janus-compartmental alginate microbeads having polydiacetylene liposomes and magnetic nanoparticles for visual lead(II) detection. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2014, 6(13): 10631–10637

DOI

48
Liu S, Tian J, Wang L, Zhang Y, Qin X, Luo Y, Asiri A M, Al-Youbi A O, Sun X. Hydrothermal treatment of grass: a low-cost, green route to nitrogen-doped, carbon-rich, photoluminescent polymer nanodots as an effective fluorescent sensing platform for label-free detection of Cu(II) ions. Advanced Materials, 2012, 24(15): 2037–2041

DOI

/