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Functionalized graphene quantum dots as a fluorescent “off–on” nanosensor for detection of mercury and ethyl xanthate

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Abstract

A simple, economical and efficient method is introduced for the functionalization of graphene quantum dots (GQDs). The GQDs was synthesized by the thermal pyrolysis of citric acid then mono-ethanolamine (MEA) was used to functionalize its surfaces. The resultant MEA-functionalized GQDs (MEA-GQDs) had remarkable fluorescence emissions with high quantum yield. The interaction studies showed that the fluorescence emissions of MEA-GQDs quenched selectively in the presence of Hg2+ ions due to the complex formation of Hg2+ ion with functional groups on MEA-GQDs. Further studies showed that, in the presence of ethyl xanthate ions (EtX−), the intensity was recovered because of the formation of a stronger complex between the thiol group of EtX− and Hg2+ ions and the dissociation of the previous weaker complex between MEA-GQDs and Hg2+ ions. In the optimal conditions, Hg2+ and EtX− ions could both be detected in the concentration ranges of 0.05–5 and 0.05–3 µM with limits of detection of 10 and 30 nM, respectively. The new MEA-GQDs-based nanosensor was successfully applied for the determination of Hg2+ and EtX− ions in spiked groundwater as a real sample with the satisfactory recovery of 97.6–101%.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the research council of University of Tehran for financial support of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Excellence in Electrochemistry, School of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Hassan Amini, Farnoush Faridbod, Mohammad Reza Ganjali & Parviz Norouzi

  2. Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Hassan Amini

  3. Biosensor Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular and Cellular Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Reza Ganjali & Parviz Norouzi

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  1. Mohammad Hassan Amini
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  2. Farnoush Faridbod
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  3. Mohammad Reza Ganjali
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Correspondence to Farnoush Faridbod.

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Amini, M.H., Faridbod, F., Ganjali, M.R. et al. Functionalized graphene quantum dots as a fluorescent “off–on” nanosensor for detection of mercury and ethyl xanthate. Res Chem Intermed 43, 7457–7470 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-017-3086-1

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