Pure and doped carbon quantum dots as fluorescent probes for the detection of phenol compounds and antibiotics in aquariums

Abstract

The resulting antibiotic residue and organic chemicals from continuous climatic change, urbanization and increasing food demand have a detrimental impact on environmental and human health protection. So, we created a unique B, N-CQDs (Boron, Nitrogen doping carbon quantum dots) based fluorescent nanosensor to investigate novel sensing methodologies for the precise and concentrated identification of antibiotics and phenol derivatives substances to ensure that they are included in the permitted percentages. The as-prepared highly fluorescent B, N-CQDs had a limited range of sizes between 1 and 6 nm and average sizes of 2.5 nm in our study. The novel B, N-CQDs showed high sensitivity and selectivity for phenolic derivatives such as hydroquinone, resorcinol, and para aminophenol, as well as organic solvents such as hexane, with low detection limits of 0.05, 0.024, 0.032 and 0.013 µM respectively in an aqueous medium. The high fluorescence B, N-CQDs probes were examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV/VIS spectroscopy. The outcomes were compared to carbon quantum dots (CQDs) previously generated from Urea.