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A Fe3O4@SiO2@graphene quantum dot core-shell structured nanomaterial as a fluorescent probe and for magnetic removal of mercury(II) ion

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Abstract

The authors describe the synthesis of a multifunctional nanocomposite with an architecture of type Fe3O4@SiO2@graphene quantum dots with an average diameter of about 22 nm. The graphene quantum dots (GQDs) were covalently immobilized on the surface of silica-coated magnetite nanospheres via covalent linkage to surface amino groups. The nanocomposite displays a strong fluorescence (with excitation/emission peaks at 330/420 nm) that is fairly selectively quenched by Hg2+ ions, presumably due to nonradiative electron/hole recombination annihilation. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the linear response to Hg2+ covers the 0.1 to 70 μM concentration range, with a 30 nM lower detection limit. The high specific surface area and abundant binding sites of the GQDs result in a good adsorption capacity for Hg2+ (68 mg⋅g−1). The material, due to its superparamagnetism, can be separated by using a magnet and also is recyclable with EDTA so that it can be repeatedly used for simultaneous detection and removal of Hg2+ from contaminated water.

A schematic view of preparation process for the Fe3O4@SiO2@graphene quantum dots nanocomposite (denoted as Fe3O4@SiO2@GQDs). The graphene quantum dots were covalently immobilized on the surface of silica-coated magnetite nanospheres (Fe3O4@SiO2) via covalent linkage to surface amino groups.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge financial support of this investigation by The Research Council of University of Tehran through Grant (Grant no.94009890).

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  1. Department of Analytical Chemistry, University College of Science, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14155-6455, Tehran, Iran

    Mahrouz Alvand & Farzaneh Shemirani

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  1. Mahrouz Alvand
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  2. Farzaneh Shemirani
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Correspondence to Farzaneh Shemirani.

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Alvand, M., Shemirani, F. A Fe3O4@SiO2@graphene quantum dot core-shell structured nanomaterial as a fluorescent probe and for magnetic removal of mercury(II) ion. Microchim Acta 184, 1621–1629 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2134-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2134-2

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