High-fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) originated from China grass carp scales (CGCS) for effective detection of Hg(II) ions.

Abstract Carbon dots (CDs) as a kind of environment-friendly fluorescent nanomaterial has been actively studied because of wide and potential applications, such as bioimaging and biosensors. It is worth mentioning that preparing CDs from the recycling of carbonaceous waste has received considerable research interest. We proposed a simple carbon dots synthesis technique, that is, using China grass carp scales (CGCS) as original and green materials by a one-step microwave hydrothermal method to prepare CDs. Since the mercury ion has strongly sulphophile, S atoms display higher thermodynamic affinity and faster integrating process with Hg2+ ions. Due to the presence of large amount of cysteine-containing sulfhydryl groups, the obtained CGCS-CDs can be used as a specific fluorescence probe for detecting Hg2+ ions. Subsequently, CGCS-CDs were characterized by HR-TEM, XRD, FT-IR and XPS analyses. The optical properties of CGCS-CDs were elucidated by fluorescence and UV–vis spectra. Additionally, the effects of pH values and salt concentrations on optical properties of CGCS-CDs were also researched by fluorescence spectra. Under optimal conditions, the decrease of fluorescence intensity displays a good linear relationship with allowable Hg2+ ion detection concentration range of 0.014–30 μmol/L and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.014 μmol/L is acquired. Meanwhile, the effect of other metal ions on the detection of Hg2+ ions by using CGCS-CDs as fluorescence probe was studied, suggesting that the CGCS-CDs could be an excellent fluorescence probe for the detection of Hg2+ ions. Eventually, the CGCS-CDs were proven to be low toxicity and applied for Hg2+ ions detection in lake water and cosmetic, demonstrating their potential towards diverse applications. Graphical abstract China grass carp scales (CGCS) are used as an original and green materials to prepare carbon dots (CDs) by a one-step microwave hydrothermal method. The obtained China grass carp scales-carbon dots (CGCS-CDs) can be used as a specific fluorescence probe in detection of Hg2+ ion for the first time. Under optimal conditions, the decrease of fluorescence intensity displays a good linear relationship in permitted detection concentration range of Hg2+ ion from 0.014 to 30 μmol/L and a limit of detection of 0.014 μmol/L was acquired. Meanwhile, the effect of other metal ions on the detection of Hg2+ ion by using CGCS-CDs as fluorescence probe was studied, suggesting that the CGCS-CDs could be an excellent fluorescence probe for the detection of Hg2+ ion. CGCS-CDs were proven to be low cytotoxicity and applied for Hg2+ ions detection in lake water and cosmetic, demonstrating their potential towards diverse applications. Unlabelled Image Highlights • Sulfur-rich China grass carp scale (CGCS) are used to prepare carbon dots (CDs). • Prepared CGCS-CDs possess relatively high fluorescent quantum yield (19.92%). • CGCS-CDs can combine with Hg2+ ions sensitively, specifically and efficiently. • CGCS-CDs can be used as fluorescence probe to detect Hg2+ in factual applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]