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Fluorine and nitrogen co-doped near-infrared carbon dots for fluorescence “on–off-on” determination of nitrite

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Abstract

A fluorescence “on–off-on” strategy was established for the determination of nitrite in aqueous solution based on fluorine and nitrogen co-doped near-infrared carbon dots (NIR-CDs). NIR-CDs were prepared via one-step hydrothermal method by using N-(4-aminophenyl)-acetamide and 4,5-difluorobenzene-1,2-diamine as precursors. The photoluminescence quantum yield of NIR-CDs reaches to 17.4%, and the optimal emission peak of NIR-CDs is 675 nm under excitation of 530 nm. The Stokes shift of NIR-CDs (145 nm) is higher than that of some CDs with longer emission wavelengths. The red bathophenanthroline disulfonic acid (BPS)-Fe2+ complex can quench the fluorescence of NIR-CDs via inner filter effect and static quench modes. Nitrite can oxidize Fe2+ to produce Fe3+ in acidic environment, resulting in not only the formation of colorless and unstable BPS-Fe3+ complex but also the fluorescence recovery of NIR-CDs. This fluorescence “on–off-on” phenomenon also comes with the color variation of the mixture, resulting in both the fluorescence and the visual determination of nitrite. Under optimal conditions, this assay exhibits a good linear range from 1 to 50 μM and a low detection limit of 0.056 μM for nitrite determination. The method showed good applicability for nitrite determination in soil extract, human urine, and water samples with acceptable results.

Graphical abstract

A convenient fluorescence “on–off-on” strategy for nitrite detection based on fluorine and nitrogen co-doped near-infrared carbon dots (NIR-CDs) and bathophenanthroline disulfonic acid (BPS)-Fe2+ complex was innovatively established. This probe showed a low detection limit of 0.056 μM for nitrite in authentic samples, which offered a new sight for fluorescent and visual detection of nitrite in environmental protection and human health areas.

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Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21864006, 22164014), Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Province (2021GXNSFAA075015), Thousands of Young Teachers Training Program of Guangxi Province (guijiaoren [2018]18), and BAGUI Scholar Program of Guangxi Province of China.

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  1. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Polymer Chemistry and Physics, College of Chemistry and Materials, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, 530001, China

    Gan Ning, Pingping Mu, Bo Li, Jiajia Liu, Qi Xiao & Shan Huang

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  1. Gan Ning
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Correspondence to Qi Xiao or Shan Huang.

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Ning, G., Mu, P., Li, B. et al. Fluorine and nitrogen co-doped near-infrared carbon dots for fluorescence “on–off-on” determination of nitrite. Microchim Acta 189, 230 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-022-05337-y

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