Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Doped Carbon Dots for the Selective Sensing of Hexavalent Chromium in Water

  • Brief Communication
  • Published:
Journal of The Institution of Engineers (India): Series E Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A sustainable approach for the rapid synthesis of red-emissive doped carbon dots (r-CD) from the leaves extract of an Indian medicinal plant known as Bael (Aegle marmelos) is described here. The fabrication process involves the solvent-based extraction using the mixture of ethanol:water (1:1), followed by the carbonization of extract in the domestic microwave to obtain r-CD without using extra chemical reagents. The as-prepared self doped r-CD exhibit the excitation-independent emissive profiles, importantly in the red region of visible spectrum with a high-quantum yield value of ~ 56% and good colloidal stability. The r-CD are used here as a fluorescent probe for the detection of toxic hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) ions which is considered as one of the most toxic pollutant materials. The selective sensing of Cr(VI) was performed via the method of fluorescence quenching of r-CD by Cr(VI), with lower limit of detection ~ 900 nM. Additionally, r-CD was further being evaluated as a fluorescent ink that could be used for printing and security purposes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

References

  1. Y.-P. Sun, X. Wang, F. Lu, L. Cao, M.J. Meziani, P.G. Luo, L. Gu, L.M. Veca, Doped carbon nanoparticles as a new platform for highly photoluminescent dots. J. Phys Chem C 112(47), 18295–18298 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. P. Anilkumar, X. Wang, L. Cao, S. Sahu, J.-H. Liu, P. Wang, K. Korch, K.N. Tackett II., A. Parenzan, Y.-P. Sun, Toward quantitatively fluorescent carbon-based quantum dots. Nanoscale 3(5), 2023–2027 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. A. Pal, M.P. Sk, A. Chattopadhyay, Recent advances on crystalline carbon dots for superior application potentials. Mater. Adv. 1, 525–553 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. R. Atchudan, T.N.J.I. Edison, S. Perumal, N. Muthuchamy, Y.R. Lee, Hydrophilic nitrogen-doped carbon dots from biowaste using dwarf banana peel for environmental and biological applications. Fuel 275, 117821 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. A. Singh, E. Eftekhari, J. Scott, J. Kaur, S. Yambem, F. Leusch, R. Wellings, T. Gould, K. Ostrikov, P. Sonar, Carbon dots derived from human hair for ppb level chloroform sensing in water. Sustain. Mater. Technol. 25, e00159 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  6. H. Qi, M. Teng, M. Liu, S. Liu, J. Li, H. Yu, C. Teng, Z. Huang, H. Liu, Q. Shao, Biomass-derived nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots: highly selective fluorescent probe for detecting Fe3+ ions and tetracyclines. J. Coll. Interface Sci. 539, 332–341 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. H. Lu, C. Li, H. Wang, X. Wang, S. Xu, Biomass-derived sulfur, nitrogen co-doped carbon dots for colorimetric and fluorescent dual mode detection of silver (I) and cell imaging. ACS omega 4(25), 21500–21508 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. J. Chen, J.-S. Wei, P. Zhang, X.-Q. Niu, W. Zhao, Z.-Y. Zhu, H. Ding, H.-M. Xiong, Red-emissive carbon dots for fingerprints detection by spray method: coffee ring effect and unquenched fluorescence in drying process. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 9(22), 18429–18433 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. A. Bhati, S. R. Anand, Gunture, A. K. Garg, P. Khare, S K Sonkar, Sunlight-induced photocatalytic degradation of pollutant dye by highly fluorescent red-emitting Mg-N-embedded carbon dots. ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng., 6 (7), 9246-9256. (2018)

  10. P. Khare, A. Bhati, S.R. Anand, Gunture, Sonkar, S.K. Brightly fluorescent zinc-doped red-emitting carbon dots for the sunlight-induced photoreduction of Cr (VI) to Cr (III). ACS omega, 3 (5), 5187–5194 (2018)

  11. B.B. Karakoçak, J. Liang, S. Kavadiya, M.Y. Berezin,P. Biswas, N. Ravi, Optimizing the synthesis of red-emissive nitrogen-doped carbon dots for use in bioimaging. ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 1 (7), 3682-3692 (2018)

  12. Y. Liu, H. Gou, X. Huang, G. Zhang, K. Xi, X. Jia, Rational synthesis of highly efficient ultra-narrow red-emitting carbon quantum dots for NIR-II two-photon bioimaging. Nanoscale 12(3), 1589–1601 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. K. Yuan, X. Zhang, R. Qin, X. Ji, Y. Cheng, L. Li, X. Yang, Z. Lu, H. Liu, Surface state modulation of red emitting carbon dots for white light-emitting diodes. J. Mater. Chem. C 6(46), 12631–12637 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. K. Yuan, X. Zhang, X. Li, R. Qin, Y. Cheng, L. Li, X. Yang, X. Yu, Z. Lu, H. Liu, Great enhancement of red emitting carbon dots with B/Al/Ga doping for dual mode anti-counterfeiting. Chem. Eng. J. 397, 125487 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. S. Huang, E. Yang, J. Yao, Y. Liu, Q. Xiao, Red emission nitrogen, boron, sulfur co-doped carbon dots for on-off-on fluorescent mode detection of Ag(+) ions and l-cysteine in complex biological fluids and living cells. Anal. Chim. Acta 1035, 192–202 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. D. Zhao, X. Liu, C. Wei, Y. Qu, X. Xiao, H. Cheng, One-step synthesis of red-emitting carbon dots via a solvothermal method and its application in the detection of methylene blue. RSC Adv. 9(51), 29533–29540 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. F. Arshad, A. Pal, M.A. Rahman, M. Ali, J.A. Khan, M.P. Sk, Insights on the solvatochromic effects in N-doped yellow-orange emissive carbon dots. New J. Chem. 42(24), 19837–19843 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. W. Gao, H. Song, X. Wang, X. Liu, X. Pang, Y. Zhou, B. Gao, X. Peng, Carbon dots with red emission for sensing of Pt2+, Au3+, and Pd2+ and their bioapplications in vitro and in vivo. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 10(1), 1147–1154 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Q. Guan, R. Su, M. Zhang, R. Zhang, W. Li, D. Wang, M. Xu, L. Fei, Q. Xu, Highly fluorescent dual-emission red carbon dots and their applications in optoelectronic devices and water detection. New J. Chem. 43(7), 3050–3058 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. X.-W. Hua, Y.-W. Bao, J. Zeng, F.-G. Wu, Nucleolus-targeted red emissive carbon dots with polarity-sensitive and excitation-independent fluorescence emission: high-resolution cell imaging and in vivo tracking. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 11(36), 32647–32658 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. A. Bhati, S.R. Anand, D. Saini, P. Khare, P. Dubey, S.K. Sonkar, Self-doped nontoxic red-emitting Mg–N-embedded carbon dots for imaging, Cu (II) sensing and fluorescent ink. New J. Chem. 42(24), 19548–19556 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. K. Sardar, S. Ali, S. Hameed, S. Afzal, S. Fatima, M.B. Shakoor, S.A. Bharwana, H.M. Tauqeer, Heavy metals contamination and what are the impacts on living organisms. Gr. J. Environ. Manag. Pub. Saf. 2(4), 172–179 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  23. T. Norseth, The carcinogenicity of chromium. Environ. Health Perspect. 40, 121–130 (1981)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. M. Jaishankar, T. Tseten, N. Anbalagan, B.B. Mathew, K.N. Beeregowda, Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscip. Toxic. 7(2), 60–72 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. P.S. Oshida, L.S. Word, Bioaccumulation of chromium and its effects on reproduction in Neanthes arenaceodentata (Polychaeta). Mar Environ. Res. 7(3), 167–174 (1982)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. T. Iwane, T. Urase, K. Yamamoto, Possible impact of treated wastewater discharge on incidence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in river water. Water Sci. Technol. 43(2), 91–99 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. W. Norwood, U. Borgmann, D. Dixon, Saturation models of arsenic, cobalt, chromium and manganese bioaccumulation by Hyalella azteca. Environ. Pollut. 143(3), 519–528 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. A. Singh, A. Bhati, P. Khare, K.M. Tripathi, S.K. Sonkar, Soluble graphene nanosheets for the sunlight-induced photodegradation of the mixture of dyes and its environmental assessment. Sci. Rep. 9(1), 1–12 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. F. Qin, R. Wang, G. Li, F. Tian, H. Zhao, R. Chen, Highly efficient photocatalytic reduction of Cr (VI) by bismuth hollow nanospheres. Catal. Commun. 42, 14–19 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. B. Dhal, H. Thatoi, N. Das, B. Pandey, Chemical and microbial remediation of hexavalent chromium from contaminated soil and mining/metallurgical solid waste: a review. J. Hazard Mater. 250, 272–291 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. R.P. Maas, S.C. Patch, A.M. Stork, J.F. Berkowitz, G.A. Stork, Release of total chromium, chromium VI and total arsenic from new and aged pressure treated lumber. UNC-Asheville Environmental Quality Institute Technical Report (2002)

  32. R. Saha, R. Nandi, B. Saha, Sources and toxicity of hexavalent chromium. J. Coord. Chem. 64(10), 1782–1806 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. B. Xie, H. Zhang, P. Cai, R. Qiu, Y. Xiong, Simultaneous photocatalytic reduction of Cr (VI) and oxidation of phenol over monoclinic BiVO4 under visible light irradiation. Chemosphere 63(6), 956–963 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. A. Bhati, S.R. Anand, D. Saini, S.K. Sonkar, Sunlight-induced photoreduction of Cr (VI) to Cr (III) in wastewater by nitrogen-phosphorus-doped carbon dots. npj Clean Water 2(1), 1–9 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. P. Li, Y. Hong, H. Feng, S.F. Li, An efficient "off-on" carbon nanoparticle-based fluorescent sensor for recognition of chromium(vi) and ascorbic acid based on the inner filter effect. J Mater Chem B. 5(16), 2979–2988 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. X. Gong, Y. Liu, Z. Yang, S. Shuang, Z. Zhang, C. Dong, An “on-off-on” fluorescent nanoprobe for recognition of chromium (VI) and ascorbic acid based on phosphorus/nitrogen dual-doped carbon quantum dot. Analytica Chimica. Acta 968, 85–96 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. D. Saini, J. Kaushik, A.K. Garg, C. Dalal, S.K. Sonkar, N, S-codoped carbon dots for nontoxic cell imaging and as a sunlight-active photocatalytic material for the removal of chromium. ACS Appl. Bio Mater. 3(6), 3656–3663 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. L. Wang, L. Wang, T. Xia, L. Dong, G. Bian, H. Chen, Direct fluorescence quantification of chromium (VI) in wastewater with organic nanoparticles sensor. Anal. Sci. 20(7), 1013–1017 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. S. Roy, K. Pal, S. Bardhan, S. Maity, D.K. Chanda, S. Ghosh, P. Karmakar, S. Das, Gd (III)-doped boehmite nanoparticle: an emergent material for the fluorescent sensing of Cr (VI) in wastewater and live cells. Inorg. Chem. 58(13), 8369–8378 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. N. Nepomuscene, D. Daniel, A. Krastanov, Biosensor to detect chromium in wastewater. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Equip. 21(3), 377–381 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. R. Sens, K.H. Drexhage, Fluorescence quantum yield of oxazine and carbazine laser dyes. J. Lumin. 24, 709–712 (1981)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Y.J. Ju, N. Li, S.G. Liu, J.Y. Liang, X. Gao, Y.Z. Fan, H.Q. Luo, N.B. Li, Proton-controlled synthesis of red-emitting carbon dots and application for hematin detection in human erythrocytes. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 411(6), 1159–1167 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. H. Ding, S.-B. Yu, J.-S. Wei, H.-M. Xiong, Full-color light-emitting carbon dots with a surface-state-controlled luminescence mechanism. ACS Nano 10(1), 484–491 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. H. Ding, Y. Ji, J.-S. Wei, Q.-Y. Gao, Z.-Y. Zhou, H.-M. Xiong, Facile synthesis of red-emitting carbon dots from pulp-free lemon juice for bioimaging. J. Mater. Chem. B 5(26), 5272–5277 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Gunture, C. Dalal, J. Kaushik, A.K. Garg, S.K. Sonkar, Pollutant-soot-based nontoxic water-soluble onion-like nanocarbons for cell imaging and selective sensing of toxic Cr (VI). ACS Appl. Bio Mater. 3(6), 3906–3913 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. R. Aggarwal, S.R. Anand, D. Saini, R. Singh, A.K. Sonker, S.K. Sonkar, Surface-passivated, soluble and non-toxic graphene nano-sheets for the selective sensing of toxic Cr (VI) and Hg (II) metal ions and as a blue fluorescent ink. Nanoscale Adv. 1(11), 4481–4491 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. M. Rong, L. Lin, X. Song, Y. Wang, Y. Zhong, J. Yan, Y. Feng, X. Zeng, X. Chen, Fluorescence sensing of chromium (VI) and ascorbic acid using graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets as a fluorescent switch. Biosens. Bioelectron. 68, 210–217 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. R. Rani, K. Paul, V. Luxami, An NBD-based two-in-one Cu2+/Ni2+ chemosensor with differential charge transfer processes. New J. Chem. 40(3), 2418–2422 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Z.-X. Han, X.-B. Zhang, Z. Li, Y.-J. Gong, X.-Y. Wu, Z. Jin, C.-M. He, L.-X. Jian, J. Zhang, G.-L. Shen, Efficient fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based ratiometric fluorescent cellular imaging probe for Zn2+ using a rhodamine spirolactam as a trigger. Anal. Chem. 82(8), 3108–3113 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. M. Zheng, Z. Xie, D. Qu, D. Li, P. Du, X. Jing, Z. Sun, On–off–on fluorescent carbon dot nanosensor for recognition of chromium (VI) and ascorbic acid based on the inner filter effect. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 5(24), 13242–13247 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. J. Chen, J. Liu, J. Li, L. Xu, Y. Qiao, One-pot synthesis of nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon dots and its application for sensor and multicolor cellular imaging. J. Coll. Interface Sci. 485, 167–174 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. N. González, S.P.L. Corral, G. Zanini, H. Montejano, C.C. Acebal, An inner filter effect based sensing system for the determination of caffeine in beverage samples. Analyst 145(6), 2279–2285 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. S. Chen, Y.-L. Yu, J.-H. Wang, Inner filter effect-based fluorescent sensing systems: a review. Anal. Chim. Acta 999, 13–26 (2018)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  54. J. Tropp, M.H. Ihde, A.K. Williams, N.J. White, N. Eedugurala, N.C. Bell, J.D. Azoulay, M. Bonizzoni, A sensor array for the discrimination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using conjugated polymers and the inner filter effect. Chem. Sci. 10(44), 10247–10255 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

A.K.G. thanks CSIR, New Delhi, for a junior research fellowship. J.K. and R.A. thank MNIT Jaipur for doctoral fellowship. D.S. thanks DST, India for Inspire doctoral fellowship, and S.K.S. thanks DST (SB/EMEQ-383/2014) for funding. S.K.S. thanks Material Research Centre (MRC), MNIT Jaipur, for material characterization.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, Jaipur, 302017, India

    Anjali Kumari Garg, Jaidev Kaushik, Deepika Saini, Ruchi Aggarwal & Sumit Kumar Sonkar

Authors
  1. Anjali Kumari Garg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jaidev Kaushik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Deepika Saini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ruchi Aggarwal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sumit Kumar Sonkar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sumit Kumar Sonkar.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Garg, A.K., Kaushik, J., Saini, D. et al. Doped Carbon Dots for the Selective Sensing of Hexavalent Chromium in Water. J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. E 103, 157–165 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40034-020-00188-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40034-020-00188-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation