| Water-soluble carbon dots (CDs) were prepared, using a facile hydrothermal oxidation route of cyclic
oligosaccharide a-CD, as carbon sources, and alkali as additives. The successful synthesis of CDs was con-
firmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), FTIR, UV–visible absorption,
and emission fluorescence. The characterizations showed that the prepared CDs are spherical and
well-dispersed in water with average diameters of approximately 2 nm. These water-soluble CDs have
excellent photo stability towards photo bleaching during 30 days. The obtained CDs showed a strong
emission at the wavelength of 450 nm, with an optimum excitation of 360 nm. The fluorescence quenching
of CDs in the presence of Fe(III) ions was used as fluorescent probes for quantifying Fe(III) ions in
aqueous solution. Under optimum condition, the fluorescence intensity versus Fe(III) concentration gave
a linear response, according to Stern–Volmer equation. The linearity range of the calibration curve and
the limit of detection were 1.60 105 to 16.6 105 mol L1
, and 6.05 106 mol L1
, respectively,
which was in the range for serum analysis of Fe(III). It was concluded that the prepared CDs had a great
potential as fluorescent probes for applications in analysis of Fe(III) ions in the blood serum samples,
which is hardly interfered by other ions. |