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Ratiometric fluorometric and visual determination of cyanide based on the use of carbon dots and gold nanoclusters

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Abstract

An optical method is described for the ratiometric fluorometric determination of cyanide ions. It is based on the use of a mixture of aqueous solutions of blue-emitting carbon dots (CDs) and red-emitting gold nanoclusters (AuNCs). The presence of cyanide reduces the red fluorescence of the AuNCs through the formation of a stable complex [Au(CN)2−]. The blue emission of the CDs, in contrast, stays constant. Hence, the color of fluorescence changes from red to purple to blue. The ratio of the fluorescence intensities located at 612 and 438 nm varies over a wide range, with 2 linear responses ranges (from 8 nM to 12.5 μM, and from 12.5 to 75 μM). The method was applied to the determination and visual discrimination of cyanide in food and drink samples.

A ratiometric method for determination of cyanide detection is described that is based on mixing carbon dots (CDs) and gold nanoclusters (AuCNs). The presence of cyanide reduces the red fluorescence of the AuNCs through the formation of a stable complex Au(CN)2−. The blue emission of the CDs, in contrast, stays constant. The fluorescence intensity ratios show linear response to cyanide with a concomitant red-purple-blue fluorescence color change.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from National Natural Science Foundation of China (21875218, 21501191, 51672248 and 51872261) and Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation (LR19E020002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Wang, Yu Qiu, Daquan Li, Xinyue Liu, Chenxing Jiang, Liang Huang, Huimin Wen & Jun Hu

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  1. Jing Wang
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Correspondence to Jun Hu.

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Wang, J., Qiu, Y., Li, D. et al. Ratiometric fluorometric and visual determination of cyanide based on the use of carbon dots and gold nanoclusters. Microchim Acta 186, 809 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-019-3803-0

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