Carbon Dots: A Versatile Platform for Cu<sup>2+</sup> Detection, Anti-Counterfeiting, and Bioimaging
Qian Wang,
Xinyi He,
Jian Mao,
Junxia Wang,
Liangliang Wang,
Zhongchi Zhang,
Yongfei Li,
Fenglin Huang,
Bin Zhao,
Gang Chen,
Hua He
Affiliations
Qian Wang
Shaanxi University Engineering Research Center of Oil and Gas Field Chemistry, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China
Xinyi He
Shaanxi University Engineering Research Center of Oil and Gas Field Chemistry, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China
Jian Mao
State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
Junxia Wang
PetroChina Changqing Petrochemical Company, Xi’an 710032, China
Liangliang Wang
Shaanxi University Engineering Research Center of Oil and Gas Field Chemistry, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China
Zhongchi Zhang
Shaanxi University Engineering Research Center of Oil and Gas Field Chemistry, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China
Yongfei Li
Shaanxi University Engineering Research Center of Oil and Gas Field Chemistry, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China
Fenglin Huang
Shaanxi University Engineering Research Center of Oil and Gas Field Chemistry, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China
Bin Zhao
Department of Statistics, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, ND 58102, USA
Gang Chen
Shaanxi University Engineering Research Center of Oil and Gas Field Chemistry, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China
Hua He
State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
Carbon dots (CDs) have garnered extensive interest in basic physical chemistry as well as in biomedical applications due to their low cost, good biocompatibility, and great aqueous solubility. However, the synthesis of multi-functional carbon dots has always been a challenge for researchers. Here, we synthesized novel CDs with a high quantum yield of 28.2% through the straightforward hydrothermal method using Diaminomaleonitrile and Boc-D-2, 3-diaminopropionic acid. The size, chemical functional group, and photophysical properties of the CDs were characterized by TEM, FTIR, XPS, UV, and fluorescence. It was demonstrated in this study that the prepared CDs have a high quantum yield, excellent photostability, and low cytotoxicity. Regarding the highly water-soluble property of CDs, they were proven to possess selective and sensitive behavior against Cu2+ ions (linear range = 0–9 μM and limit of detection = 1.34 μM). Moreover, the CDs were utilized in fluorescent ink in anti-counterfeiting measures. Because of their low cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility, the CDs were also successfully utilized in cell imaging. Therefore, the as-prepared CDs have great potential in fluorescence sensing, anti-counterfeiting, and bioimaging.
