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Amaranth red is usually used as a food colorant in carbonated drinks, but long-term excess consumption of amaranth red in carbonated drinks may lead to the loss of zinc in the human body, thus causing kidney dysfunction. In this study, we developed a simple method to combine cysteamine (Cys) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), the surface of AgNPs was modified with Cys at room temperature, and then the amino-functionalized SERS substrate was obtained, which was applied to the determination of amaranth red in carbonated drinks. The characteristic peak in Raman spectra of amaranth red showed obvious SERS enhancement at 1570 cm−1, whose intensity had a good linear relationship with the concentration of amaranth red in carbonated drinks. The limits of detection (LOD) in water and carbonated drinks were calculated to be 1.49 μg/L and 4.13 μg/L, and the adjusted correlation coefficients (R2) were 0.992 and 0.990, respectively. In addition, the average recovery rate of amaranth red in carbonated drinks was 95.11–105.48%, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 4.37–8.09%. This work provides a simple and fast method for detecting amaranth red in carbonated drinks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen, boron co-doped carbon quantum dots (gCQDs), and a coloration probe (PPD-NPs) with response to cobalt ions (Co2+) were prepared by using 4-hydroxyphenylboric acid as the common precursor, with ethylenediamine and p-phenylenediamine (PPD) adopted as nitrogen-doped reagents, respectively. A noticeable brown-to-purple color change can be observed with the addition of Co2+, and a broad absorption band emerges at 535 nm. At the same time, gCQDs, which is introduced as the fluorescence signal source, will be significantly quenched due to the enhanced inner filtration effect, induced by the overlap between the emission spectrum of gCQDs and the emerging absorption band. Therefore, a colorimetric/fluorescent dual-mode sensing probe for Co2+ is constructed by combining the recognition unit PPD-NPs and the fluorescent gCQDs into PPD-NP/gCQD. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the calculated limits of detection are 1.51 × 10−7 M and 3.75 × 10−7 M for the colorimetric mode and the fluorescence mode, respectively, well qualified for the determination of Co2+ maximum permitted level in drinking water. The feasibility of the proposed method has been verified in tap water, lake water, and black tea samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of a range of excited states has endowed low dimensional quantum nanostructures with interesting luminescence properties. However, the origin of photoluminescence emission is still not fully understood, which has limited its practical application. Here we judiciously manipulate the delicate surface ligand interactions at the nanoscale interface of a single metal nanocluster, the superlattice, and mesoporous materials. The resulting interplay of various noncovalent interactions leads to a precise modulation of emission colors and quantum yield. A new p-band state, resulting from the strong overlapping of p orbitals of the heteroatoms (O, N, and S) bearing on the targeting ligands though space interactions, is identified as a dark state to activate the triplet state of the surface aggregated chromophores. The UV-Visible spectra calculated by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) are in quantitative agreement with the experimental adsorption spectra. The energy level of the p-band center is very sensitive to the local proximity ligand chromophores at heterogeneous interfaces. The basic principles behind the optoelectronic properties of metal nanoclusters are still not fully understood. Here the authors manipulate the surface ligand interactions on single metal nanoclusters, within self-assembled superlattices, and in confined nanopores to achieve precise modulation of emission colors and quantum yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the expansion of human activities, the consequent influx of mercury (Hg) into the food chain and the environment is seriously threatening human life. Herein, nitrogen and sulfur co-doped fluorescent carbon quantum dots (yCQDs) were prepared via a hydrothermal method using o-phenylenediamine (OPD) and taurine as precursors. The morphological characteristics as well as spectral features of yCQDs indicated that the photoluminescence mechanism should be the molecular state fluorophores of 2, 3-diaminophenothiazine (oxOPD), which is the oxide of OPD. The as-synthesized yCQDs exhibited sensitive recognition of Hg2+. According to the investigation in combination of UV-Vis absorption spectra, time-resolved fluorescence spectra and quantum chemical calculations, the abundant functional groups on the surface of yCQDs allowed Hg2+ to bind with yCQDs through various interactions, and the formed complexes significantly inhibited the absorption of excitation light, resulting in the static fluorescence quenching of yCQDs. The proposed yCQDs was utilized for Hg2+ sensing with the limit of detection calculated to be 4.50 × 10− 8 M. Furthermore, the recognition ability of yCQDs for Hg2+ was estimated in tap water, lake water and bottled water, and the results indicated that yCQDs have potential applications in monitoring Hg2+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All-inorganic CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) nanocrystals (NCs) are widely recognized as promising materials for optoelectronic devices. This is due to their ability to exhibit a variable band gap, narrow emission properties, and high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). However, the use of traditional ligands like alkyl acid and amine could not anchor NCs tightly. Consequently, this has led to inefficient passivation of surface defects and poor stability of CsPbX3 NCs. In this study, we present the preparation of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals using the room temperature saturation recrystallization method with urea as a co-ligand. Urea, a small molecule ligand with bifunctional groups, acts as a zwitterionic ligand and effectively modifies the surface state of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals through its C=O and N–H functional groups. The as-prepared CsPbBr3 nanocrystals, with a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of up to 80%, exhibit improved water stability compared to pristine CsPbBr3 nanocrystals. X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence (PL) results demonstrate that the addition of urea as a co-ligand promotes crystallization and enhances the emission intensity of CsPbBr3. Meanwhile, the photoluminescence mechanism of CsPbBr3 NCs was investigated using ultrafast transient absorption and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. This study presents a straightforward ligand-assisted method for preparing stable CsPbBr3 NCs with high PLQY, while also enhancing the understanding of the interaction between ligands and the PL properties of CsPbBr3 NCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we proposed an efficient method for mercury(II) and glutathione detection using a fluorescent nanoprobe as a sensor. Carbon dots were synthesized from polyethyleneimine and ammonium citrate via a one-step hydrothermal method. The fluorescence of carbon dots was quenched since electron transfer occurred due to the interaction between mercury(II) and functional groups on the surface of carbon dots. Adding glutathione to the carbon dots-mercury(II) system, the fluorescence was recovered due to the stronger binding ability of glutathione to mercury(II). Based on the above-mentioned principle, this "off-on" fluorescent sensor can easily achieve the detection of mercury(II) and glutathione, which provided limits of detection of 22.45 nM and 61.89 nM, respectively. In this paper, the proposed method has been applied to detect mercury(II) and glutathione in real lake water and serum, respectively, and a logic gate for sensing glutathione was presented. The developed "off-on" fluorescent sensor with high sensitivity and selectivity has shown great potential for mercury(II) and glutathione detection in environmental and biosensing fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrite ion is one of the materials widely used in human life, and the accurate, sensitive and stable detection of nitrite ions is of great significance to people’s healthy life. In this study, nitrogen-doped fluorescent carbon dots (N-CDs) for detecting nitrite salt solutions were prepared using citric acid monohydrate and Chrysoidin as precursors through a one-pot hydrothermal method. Under the condition of pH = 3, a noticeable quenching phenomenon occurred in the carbon dot solution with the increase in nitrite ion concentration. This quenching effect might be attributed to the diazonium effect. N-CDs have been successfully used as fluorescence probes for NO2− detection. NO2− can effectively quench the fluorescence intensity of N-CDs, providing a linear response to fluorescence quenching efficiency with respect to NO2− concentration within the range of 0–10µM and 10–30µM, and a detection limit of 52nM, showing high sensitivity. In addition, the probe was applied to the determination of NO2− in ham sausage samples with a detection limit of 0.67µM and recoveries in the range of 99.5-102.3%, the fluorescent probe showed satisfactory reliability.Schematic illustration for detecting nitrite ion in ham sausage using N-CDsSchematic illustration for detecting nitrite ion in ham sausage using N-CDsGraphical Abstract: Nitrite ion is one of the materials widely used in human life, and the accurate, sensitive and stable detection of nitrite ions is of great significance to people’s healthy life. In this study, nitrogen-doped fluorescent carbon dots (N-CDs) for detecting nitrite salt solutions were prepared using citric acid monohydrate and Chrysoidin as precursors through a one-pot hydrothermal method. Under the condition of pH = 3, a noticeable quenching phenomenon occurred in the carbon dot solution with the increase in nitrite ion concentration. This quenching effect might be attributed to the diazonium effect. N-CDs have been successfully used as fluorescence probes for NO2− detection. NO2− can effectively quench the fluorescence intensity of N-CDs, providing a linear response to fluorescence quenching efficiency with respect to NO2− concentration within the range of 0–10µM and 10–30µM, and a detection limit of 52nM, showing high sensitivity. In addition, the probe was applied to the determination of NO2− in ham sausage samples with a detection limit of 0.67µM and recoveries in the range of 99.5-102.3%, the fluorescent probe showed satisfactory reliability.Schematic illustration for detecting nitrite ion in ham sausage using N-CDsSchematic illustration for detecting nitrite ion in ham sausage using N-CDs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we developed a sophisticated dual-mode sensor that utilized 3-aminophenylboric acid functionalized carbon dots (APBA-CDs) to accurately detect uric acid (UA). Our innovative process involved synthesizing APBA-CDs that emitted at 369 nm using a one-step hydrothermal method with 3-aminophenylboric acid and L-glutamine as precursors, ethanol and deionized water as solvents. Once UA was introduced to the APBA-CDs, the fluorescence of the system became visibly quenched. The results of Zeta potential, Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectra, fluorescence lifetime, and other characteristics were analyzed to determine that the reaction mechanism was static quenching. This meant that after UA was mixed with APBA-CDs, it combined with the boric acid function on the surface to form complexes, resulting in a decrease in fluorescence intensity and a blue shift in the absorption peak at about 295 nm in the Ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption spectra. We were pleased to report that we have successfully used the dual-reading platform to accurately detect UA in serum and human urine. It provided a superior quantitative and visual analysis of UA without the involvement of enzymes. We firmly believe that our innovative dual-mode sensor has immense potential in the fields of biosensing and health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a fluorescent “on-off-on” nanosensor based on N,S-CDs was developed for highly precise and sensitive recognition of Hg2+ and ampicillin (AMP). Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon dots with blue fluorescence were synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal method using ammonium citrate and DL-methionine as precursors. N,S-CDs exhibited a surface abundant in -OH, -COOH, and -NH2 groups, aiding in creating non-fluorescent ground state complexes when combined with Hg2+, leading to the suppression of N,S-CDs’ fluorescence. Subsequent to additional AMP application, the mixed system’s fluorescence was restored. Based on this N,S-CDs sensing system, the thresholds for detection for AMP and Hg2+ were discovered to be 0.121 µM and 0.493 µM, respectively. Furthermore, this methodology proved effective in identifying AMP in real samples of tap and lake water, yielding satisfactory results. Consequently, in the area of bioanalysis in intricate environmental sample work, the sensing system showed tremendous promise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we obtained nitrogen and phosphorus co-doped carbon dots through a hydrothermal method using o-phenylenediamine and citric acid in a 40% phosphoric acid environment. The carbon dots emitted fluorescence at 476 nm under excitation at 408 nm and exhibited good selectivity and high sensitivity towards mercury ions. These carbon dots showed excellent dispersibility in water and maintained stable fluorescence even in high concentration salt environments. The interaction between mercury ions and functional groups on the carbon dots surface through electrostatic interaction resulted in static quenching. Simultaneously, by detecting the lifetime and transient absorption spectra of the carbon dots, we observed that the coordination of mercury ions with the carbon dots broadened the band structure of the carbon dots, and the existing photoinduced electron transfer process increased the non-radiative transition channel. The combined effect of dynamic quenching and static quenching significantly reduced the fluorescence intensity of the carbon dots at 476 nm. The carbon dots exhibited linear detection of mercury ions in the range of 0.01-1 µM, with a detection limit as low as 0.0245 µM. In terms of practical water environmental detection applications, these carbon dots were able to effectively detect mercury ions in tap water and lake water, demonstrating their broad application prospects in the field of environmental metal analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chrysoidine, an industrial dye, is a banned chemical for use as a food additive. Studies have shown that excessive ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact with the substance can cause acute and chronic toxicological damage. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a spectroscopic detection technique with high selectivity and sensitivity. In this study, a mixture of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) was used as the SERS substrate at room temperature for the rapid and sensitive detection of Chrysoidine in mirinda soft drink, and PEI could attract Chrysoidine to the hot spot region of the AgNPs and enhance its Raman signal. The characteristic peak of the SERS spectrum of Chrysoidine showed obvious SERS enhancement at 1180 cm− 1, and there was a good linear relationship between the SERS intensity and the concentration of Chrysoidine. The limits of detection (LOD) in both water and mirinda soft drink were determined to be 1.32 µg/L and 5.11 µg/L, respectively. In addition, the average recoveries ranged from 95.65 to 102.08% with the RSDs of 3.41-5.02%. The method can be successfully used for the rapid and sensitive detection of Chrysoidine in mirinda soft drink, which provides a new idea for the detection of Chrysoidine in other different samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]