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A Dual-Mode Detection Sensor Based on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots for Visual Detection of Fe(III) and Ascorbic Acid via a Smartphone

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Abstract

Accurately and promptly detecting Fe3+ and ascorbic acid (AA) is a crucial objective. In this study, nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) were synthesized using a one-step hydrothermal synthesis method with 6,9-diamino-2-ethoxyacridine lactate as the precursor. The introduction of Fe3+ and AA resulted in both fluorescence (FL) quenching and enhancement of the synthesized N-CDs. The fluorescent response of the N-CDs probe to Fe3+ was observed in the concentration range of 5–20 µM and 25–50 µM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 290 nM. Remarkably, the fluorescence of the N-CDs was recovered upon the addition of AA to the N-CDs-Fe3+ system. Using the “off-on” fluorescent N-CDs probe, a linear range of 40–90 µM was achieved with an LOD of 0.69 µM. Additionally, the feasibility of employing a smartphone equipped with an RGB Color Picker was demonstrated for the analysis of Fe3+ and AA concentrations, providing a novel visual detection method. Furthermore, the application of N-CDs in solution demonstrated considerable potential for visually detecting Fe3+ and AA. The proposed dual-mode detection sensor was found to be simple, efficient, and stable, enabling the successful determination of Fe3+ and AA in practical samples with satisfactory results.

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Acknowledgements

I extend special thanks to the University of Sulaimani and Charmo University for all of their cooperation. K.F.K.

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Qliasan Street, Sulaimani City, Kurdistan Region, 46002, Iraq

    Kawan F. Kayani

  2. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Charmo University, Peshawa Street, Chamchamal, Sulaimani City, 46023, Iraq

    Kawan F. Kayani

  3. Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Qliasan Street, Sulaimani City, Kurdistan Region, 46002, Iraq

    Chalak Najat Abdullah

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K.F.K.: conceptualization, software, formal analysis, validation, investigation, and writing (original draft). C.N.A: conceptualization, formal analysis, investigation, sample collections.

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Correspondence to Kawan F. Kayani.

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Kayani, K.F., Abdullah, C.N. A Dual-Mode Detection Sensor Based on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots for Visual Detection of Fe(III) and Ascorbic Acid via a Smartphone. J Fluoresc (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-024-03604-0

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