Electrogenerated chemiluminescence from thiol-capped CdTe quantum dots and its sensing application in aqueous solution

In this paper, the electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) from thiol-capped CdTe quantum dots (QDs) was reported. The ECL emission was occurred at −1.1 V and reached a maximum value at −2.4 V when the potential was cycled between 0.0 and −2.5 V. The reduced species of CdTe QDs could react with the coreactants to produce the ECL emission. The CdTe QD concentration (6.64 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹) of ECL is lower than that (1.0 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹) of chemiluminescence (CL). Based on the enhancement of light emission from thiol-capped CdTe QDs by H₂O₂ in the negative electrode potential, a novel method for the determination of H₂O₂ was developed. The light intensity was linearly proportional to the concentration of H₂O₂ between 2.0 × 10⁻⁷ and 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 6.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. Compared with most of previous reports, the proposed method has higher sensitivity for the determination of H₂O₂. In addition, the ECL spectrum of thiol-capped CdTe QDs exhibited a peak at around 620 nm, which was substantially red shifted from the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, suggesting the surface states play an important role in this ECL process.     

Naked-eye colorimetric analysis of Hg2+ with bi-color CdTe quantum dots multilayer films

A novel direct quantificational method through naked-eye colorimetric analysis of Hg²⁺ was constructed based on different degree of the fluorescence quenching of bi-color quantum dots (QDs) multilayer films (2-QDMF). The functional multilayer films were assembled by layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition of oppositely charged CdTe QDs and poly(dimethyldiallylemmonium chloride) (PDDA). Then the outermost layer of 2-QDMF was cross-linked to bovine serum albumin (BSA), polyethylene glycol (PEG) or glutathione (GSH). It was found that when BSA modified quartz slides were immersed into solutions containing Hg²⁺ and Cu²⁺ respectively, the 2-QDMF can be quenched by Hg²⁺, but not by Cu²⁺. Under the optimization conditions, the quenched photoluminescence (PL) intensities of multilayer films were almost linearly proportional to the concentration of Hg²⁺ in the range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ and the detection limit was 4.5 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹. The proposed method is intuitional and convenient, which can be applied to the determination of trace Hg²⁺ in the artificial water sample with satisfactory results.     

Facile synthesis of N-acetyl-L-cysteine capped ZnS quantum dots as an eco-friendly fluorescence sensor for Hg2+

This paper described an investigation of a novel eco-friendly fluorescence sensor for Hg²⁺ ions based on N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC)-capped ZnS quantum dots (QDs) in aqueous solution. By using safe and low-cost materials, ZnS QDs modified by NAC were easily synthesized in aqueous medium via a one-step method. The quantitative detection of Hg²⁺ ions was developed based on fluorescence quenching of ZnS QDs with high sensitivity and selectivity. Under optimal conditions, its response was linearly proportional to the concentration of Hg²⁺ ions in a range from 0 to 2.4 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 5.0 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹. Most of common physiologically relevant cations and anions did not interfere with the detection of Hg²⁺. The proposed method was applied to the trace determination of Hg²⁺ ions in water samples. The possible quenching mechanism was also examined by fluorescence and UV-vis absorption spectra.     

Ultrasensitive cysteine sensing using citrate-capped CdS quantum dots

The importance of cysteine (Cys) in biological systems has stimulated a great deal of efforts in the development of analytical methods for the determination of this amino acid. In this work, a novel fluorescent probe for Cys based on citrate (Cit)-capped CdS quantum dots (QDs) is reported. The Cit-capped CdS QDs fluorescent probe offers good sensitivity and selectivity for detecting Cys. A good linear relationship was obtained from 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ to 5.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ for Cys. The detection limit was calculated as 5.4 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹. The proposed method was applied to detect Cys in human urine samples, which showed satisfactory results. This assay is based on both the lability of Cit and the strong affinity of thiols to the surface of CdS QDs. The addition of Cys improved the passivation of the surface traps of CdS QDs and enhanced the fluorescence intensity.     

Size-dependent electrochemiluminescence behavior of water-soluble CdTe quantum dots and selective sensing of l-cysteine

Water-soluble CdTe quantum dots (QDs) with five sizes (2.25, 2.50, 2.77, 3.12, and 3.26 nm) were synthesized with the hydrothermal method. The electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of CdTe QDs was investigated in detail in air-saturated solution without adding foreign oxidant. It was found that the ECL of CdTe QDs displayed a size-dependent property. With the increasing in the particle size of the CdTe QDs, the ECL intensity was gradually increased, in addition, both ECL peak potentials and ECL onset potentials of CdTe QDs were shifted positively. Influences of some factors on the ECL intensity were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the ECL intensity had a linear relationship with the concentration of l-cysteine (l-Cys) in the range from 1.3 × 10⁻⁶ to 3.5 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ (R² 0.996) with a detection limit of 8.7 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3). The proposed method was applied to the determination of l-Cys in real samples with satisfactory results. Compared with previous reports, it has better selectivity for the determination of l-Cys.     

A novel method for iodate determination using cadmium sulfide quantum dots as fluorescence probes

We have developed a novel method for the determination of iodate based on the carboxymethyl cellulose-capped CdS quantum dots (QDs). Factors affecting the iodate detection were investigated, and the optimum conditions were determined. Under the optimum conditions, the relative fluorescence intensity of CdS quantum dots was linearly proportional to IO₃⁻ over a concentration range from 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ with a correlation coefficient of 0.9987 and a detection limit of 6.0 nmol L⁻¹. Iodide, being oxidized by bromine to form iodate, was detected indirectly. The method was successfully applied to the determination of iodate and total amount of iodine in table salt samples. The related mechanism was also discussed.     

A potential visual fluorescence probe for ultratrace arsenic (III) detection by using glutathione-capped CdTe quantum dots

The interaction between mercaptoacetic acid (MA)-capped CdTe QDs, MA-capped CdTe/ZnS QDs or glutathione (GSH)-capped CdTe QDs with As(III) was studied using fluorescence spectrometry. As (III) has a high-affinity to reduced-GSH to form As(SG)₃, and the emission of the GSH-capped CdTe QDs (λ_em. = 612 nm) is quenched effectively. Thus, a novel fluorescence spectrometric method was developed for As (III) determination by using GSH-CdTe QDs. Under optimal conditions, the quenched fluorescence intensity (F₀/F) increased linearly with the concentration of As (III) ranging from 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 25 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹. The limit of detection (3σ) for As (III) was found to be 2 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. This method is potentially useful in visual detection of As (III) under irradiation of the ultraviolet light.     

Triethanolamine-capped CdSe quantum dots as fluorescent sensors for reciprocal recognition of mercury (II) and iodide in aqueous solution

Water-soluble luminescent CdSe quantum dots surface-modified with triethanolamine (TEA-CdSe-QDs) were prepared with high stability. The fluorescence of the TEA-CdSe-QDs was greatly quenched only when Hg²⁺ and I⁻ coexisted in the solution, whereas addition of either Hg²⁺ or I⁻ individually has no noticeable effect on the fluorescence emission. Such a unique quenching effect could be used for reciprocal recognition of mercury (II) ions and/or iodide anions in aqueous solution with rather high selectivity and sensitivity. The detection limits of Hg²⁺ or I⁻ ion were 1.9 × 10⁻⁷ mol L^-1 or 2.8 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹, respectively. The adequate experiments showed that iodine (I) anions could bridge between TEA-CdSe-QDs and Hg²⁺ to form a stable complex (QDs-I⁻-Hg²⁺) and the following effective electron transfer from the QDs to the Hg²⁺ could be responsible for the fluorescence quenching of QDs.     

A novel dual-function molecularly imprinted polymer on CdTe/ZnS quantum dots for highly selective and sensitive determination of ractopamine

A novel dual-function material was synthesized by anchoring a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) layer on CdTe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) using a sol–gel with surface imprinting. The material exhibited highly selective and sensitive determination of ractopamine (RAC) through spectrofluorometry and solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A series of adsorption experiments revealed that the material showed high selectivity, good adsorption capacity and a fast mass transfer rate. Fluorescence from the MIP-coated QDs was more strongly quenched by RAC than that of the non-imprinted polymer, which indicated that the MIP-coated QDs acted as a fluorescence sensing material could recognize RAC. In addition, the MIP-coated QDs as a sorbent was also shown to be promising for SPE coupled with HPLC for the determination of trace RAC in feeding stuffs and pork samples. Under optimal conditions, the spectrofluorometry and SPE-HPLC methods using the MIP-coated QDs had linear ranges of 5.00 × 10⁻¹⁰–3.55 × 10⁻⁷ and 1.50 × 10⁻¹⁰–8.90 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹, respectively, with limits of detection of 1.47 × 10⁻¹⁰ and 8.30 × 10⁻¹¹ mol L⁻¹, the relative standard deviations for six repeat experiments of RAC (2.90 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹) were below 2.83% and 7.11%.     

Determination of arsenic based on quenching of CdS quantum dots fluorescence using the gas-diffusion flow injection method

A sequential injection analysis system for determination of arsenic based on hydride generation and fluorescence quenching of mercaptoacetic acid capped cadmium sulfide quantum dots (CdS-MAA QDs) is described. The generated arsine diffused across the PTFE membrane in a gas-diffusion unit and subsequently interacted with CdS-MAA QDs. The parameters affecting the arsine generation and the fluorescence quenching of QDs were studied. Under the optimum conditions, it was observed that a increase in the concentration of As(III) corresponded well to a decrease in fluorescence intensity according to the Stern-Volmer relationship. The extent of quenching was dependent on the concentration of arsenic in the range of 0.08-3.20 mmol L⁻¹, with the detection limit of 0.07 mg L⁻¹. The precision (%RSD) from eight replicates of the determination of As(III) 1.0 mg L⁻¹ was found to be 1.4%. The proposed method was applied to the determination of arsenic in ground water samples with satisfactory recoveries.     

Ultrasensitive determination of 1,4-dihydroxybenzene based on fluorescence resonance energy quenching of luminescent quantum dots modified on surface of silica nanoparticles

An ultrasensitive solid-phase fluorescence resonance energy quenching (FREQ) method for determination of 1,4-dihydroxybenzene (DHB) using mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA)-capped CdTe quantum dots (QDs) immobilized on silica nanoparticles (NPs) as donors was developed. In the method, silica NPs were first modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS). Then, MSA-capped CdTe QDs were immobilized on the surface of the APTS-modified silica NPs. Finally, DHB in the solution was attached to the empty sites on the surface of silica NPs with QDs through electrostatic interaction. The fluorescence emission of the QDs was quenched by the proximal DHB molecules on the silica NPs. The quenching efficiency of the solid-phase FREQ method was 200-times higher than that of the solution-phase FREQ method. Using the ultrasensitive solid-phase FREQ method, DHB as low as 2.4 × 10⁻¹² mol/L could be detected. The method was applied to quantify trace DHB in water samples.     

ZnS quantum dots derived a reagentless uric acid biosensor

A reagentless amperometric uric acid biosensor based on zinc sulfide (ZnS) quantum dots (QDs) was firstly developed. It could detect uric acid without the presence of an electron mediator. The carboxyl group functionalized ZnS QDs were synthesized, and they were soluble biocompatible and conductive. ZnS QDs conjugates could provide increased enzyme binding sites, which may result in higher enzyme loading. Thus, the proposed uricase/ZnS QDs/l-cys biosensor exhibited higher amperometric response compared to the one without QDs (uricase/l-cys biosensor). In addition, there was little AA interference. It showed a linear dependence on the uric acid concentration ranging from 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 2.0 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 2.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ at 3σ.     

Determination of melamine in different milk batches using a novel chemosensor based on the luminescence quenching of Ru(II) carbonyl complex

A novel, simple, sensitive and precise spectrofluorimetric method was developed for measuring the melamine concentration in different milk batch samples. The method was based upon measuring the quenching of the luminescence intensity of the produced yellow colored ruthenium^(II) carbonyl complex of the general formula [Ru(CO)₂(L)] (where L = anion of tetradentate Schiff base). The Ru^(II) complex exhibited characteristic luminescence band in the visible region. The remarkable quenching of the luminescence intensity of [Ru(CO)₂(L)] complex by various concentrations of melamine was successfully used as a chemosensor for the assessment of melamine in different milk samples at λ_ex = 400 nm and pH 7.4 in DMSO with a linear dynamic range 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 3.0 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ and lower detection limit (LOD) and quantification detection limit (QOD) of 3.3 × 10⁻¹⁰ and 1.0 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹, respectively.     

Fluorescence enhancement of CdTe/CdS quantum dots by coupling of glyphosate and its application for sensitive detection of copper ion

A novel fluorescent probe for Cu²⁺ determination based on the fluorescence quenching of glyphosate (Glyp)-functionalized quantum dots (QDs) was firstly reported. Glyp had been used to modify the surface of QDs to form Glyp-functionalized QDs following the capping of thioglycolic acid on the core–shell CdTe/CdS QDs. Under the optimal conditions, the response was linearly proportional to the concentration of Cu²⁺ between 2.4 × 10⁻² μg mL⁻¹ and 28 μg mL⁻¹, with a detection limit of 1.3 × 10⁻³ μg mL⁻¹ (3δ). The Glyp-functionalized QDs fluorescent probe offers good sensitivity and selectivity for detecting Cu²⁺. The fluorescent probe was successfully used for the determination of Cu²⁺ in environmental samples. The mechanism of reaction was also discussed.     

A sensitive sensor for anthraquinone anticancer drugs and hsDNA based on CdTe/CdS quantum dots fluorescence reversible control

Based on CdTe/CdS quantum dots (CdTe/CdS QDs) fluorescence (FL) reversible control, a new and sensitive FL sensor for determination of anthraquinone (AQ) anticancer drugs (adriamycin and daunorubicin) and herring sperm DNA (hsDNA) was developed. Under the experimental conditions, FL of CdTe/CdS QDs can be effectively quenched by AQ anticancer drugs due to the binding of AQ anticancer drugs on the surface of CdTe/CdS QDs and photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process from CdTe/CdS QDs to AQ anticancer drugs. Addition of hsDNA afterwards brought the restoration of CdTe/CdS QDs FL intensity, as AQ anticancer drugs peeled off from the surface of CdTe/CdS QDs and embedded into hsDNA double helix structure. The liner ranges and the detection limits of FL quenching methods for two AQ anticancer drugs were 0.33-9 μg mL⁻¹ and 0.09 μg mL⁻¹ for ADM and 0.15-9 μg mL⁻¹ and 0.04 μg mL⁻¹ for DNR, respectively. The restored FL intensity was proportional to concentration of hsDNA in the range of 1.38-28 μg mL⁻¹and the detection limit for hsDNA was 0.41 μg mL⁻¹. It was applied to the determination of AQ anticancer drugs in human serum and urine samples with satisfactory results. The reaction mechanism of CdTe/CdS QDs FL reversible control was studied.     

Highly-controllable imprinted polymer nanoshell at the surface of silica nanoparticles based room-temperature phosphorescence probe for detection of 2,4-dichlorophenol

This paper reports a facile and general method for preparing an imprinted polymer thin shell with Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots (QDs) at the surface of silica nanoparticles by stepwise precipitation polymerization to form the highly-controllable core–shell nanoparticles (MIPs@SiO₂–ZnS:Mn QDs) and sensitively recognize the target 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). Acrylamide (AM) and ethyl glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) were used as the functional monomer and the cross-linker, respectively. The MIPs@SiO₂–ZnS:Mn QDs had a controllable shell thickness and a high density of effective recognition sites, and the thickness of uniform core–shell 2,4-DCP-imprinted nanoparticles was controlled by the total amounts of monomers. The MIPs@SiO₂–ZnS:Mn QDs with a shell thickness of 45 nm exhibited the largest quenching efficiency to 2,4-DCP by using the spectrofluorometer. After the experimental conditions were optimized, a linear relationship was obtained covering the linear range of 1.0–84 μmol L⁻¹ with a correlation coefficient of 0.9981 and the detection limit (3σ/k) was 0.15 μmol L⁻¹. The feasibility of the developed method was successfully evaluated through the determination of 2,4-DCP in real samples. This study provides a general strategy to fabricate highly-controllable core–shell imprinted polymer-contained QDs with highly selective recognition ability.     

One-step synthesis and applications of fluorescent Cu nanoclusters stabilized by l-cysteine in aqueous solution

Herein, an innovative and simple strategy for synthesizing high fluorescent Cu nanoclusters was successfully established while l-cysteine played a role as the stabilizer. Meaningfully, the current Cu nanoclusters together with a quantum yield of 14.3% were prepared in aqueous solution, indicating their extensive applications. Subsequently, the possible fluorescence mechanism was elucidated by fluorescence, UV–vis, HR-TEM, FTIR, XPS, and MS. Additionally, the CuNCs were employed for assaying Hg²⁺ on the basis of the interactions between Hg²⁺ and l-cysteine; thus facilitating the quenching of their fluorescence. The proposed analytical strategy permitted detections of Hg²⁺ in a linear range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹, with a detection limit of 2.4 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Significantly, this CuNCs described here were further applied for coding and fluorescent staining, suggesting may broaden avenues toward diverse applications.     

Functionalized cadmium sulfide quantum dots as fluorescence probe for silver ion determination

CdS quantum dots (QDs) modified with l-cysteine has been prepared by one step. They are water-soluble and biocompatible. To improve CdS QDs stability and interaction between silver ion and functionalized CdS QDs in aqueous solution, some amounts of fresh l-cysteine were added to functionalized CdS solution. Based on the characteristic fluorescence enhancement of CdS QDs at 545 nm by silver ions in the presence of some amounts of fresh l-cysteine, simultaneously, a gradual red shift of fluorescence emission bands of CdS QDs from 545 to 558 nm was observed. A simple, rapid, sensitive and specific detection method for silver ion was proposed. Under optimum conditions, the fluorescence intensity of CdS QDs is linearly proportional to silver concentration from 2.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L with a detection limit of 5.0 × 10⁻⁹ mol/L. In comparison with single organic fluorophores, functionalized CdS quantum dots are brighter, more stable against photobleaching, and don’t suffer from blinking. Furthermore, owing to the fluorescence enhancement effect of CdS QDs by silver ion, the proposed method showed lower detection blank and higher sensitivity. Possible fluorescence enhancement mechanism was also studied.     

Investigation of some critical parameters of buffer conditions for the development of quantum dots-based optical sensors

The unique surface-sensitive properties make quantum dots (QDs) great potential in the development of sensors for various analytes. However, quantum dots are not only sensitive to a certain analyte, but also to the surrounding conditions. The controlled response to analyte may be the first step in the designing of functional quantum dots sensors. In this study, taking the quenching effect of benzoquinone (BQ) on CdTe QDs as model, several critical parameters of buffer solution conditions with potential effect on the sensors were investigated. The pH value and the concentration of sodium citrate in the buffer solution critically influenced the quenching effects of BQ. Dozens folds elevation of the quenching extents were observed with the increase of concentrations of H⁺ and sodium citrate, and the quenching mechanisms were also fundamentally different with the changes of the surrounding buffer solutions. The quenching models were proposed and analyzed at different buffer conditions. Taking pH values for example, QDs quenching obeyed the sphere of effective quenching model with the sphere radii of 8.29 nm at pH 8.0, the linear Stern-Volmer equation with Stern-Volmer constant of 2.0 × 10³ mol⁻¹ L at pH 7.0, and the two binding site static quenching model at basic conditions. The elucidation of parameters for assay performance was important in the development of QDs-based optical sensors.     

A new resonance scattering spectral method for the determination of trace amounts of iodate with rhodamine 6G

Under the conditions of 0.04 mol L⁻¹ HCl-8.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ KI, there is a fluorescence peak at 540 nm and a synchronous fluorescence peak at 540 nm for rhodamine 6G (RhG). When there is IO₃⁻, it reacts with exceed I⁻ to form I₃⁻. And I₃⁻ and RhG combine into ion association particles. The particles exhibit three resonance scattering peaks at 320, 400 and 595 nm. And there is fluorescence quenching at 540 nm. Iodine concentration is proportional to the intensity of the resonance scattering intensity at 400 nm in the range of 1.0-20 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. And a new resonance scattering spectral (RSS) method has been described for the determination of IO₃⁻ in salt samples. The spectral results have been verified that the formation of (RhG-I₃)_n association particles and solid-liquid interfaces are the main factor that cause the fluorescence quenching and resonance scattering effects.