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A Smartphone-Based Sensing for Portable and Sensitive Visual Detection of Hg (II) via Nitrogen Doped Carbon Quantum Dots Modified Paper Strip

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Abstract

The development of portable and cost-effective sensing system for Hg2+ quantitation is highly demanded for environmental monitoring. Herein, an on-site, rapid and portable smartphone readout device based Hg2+ sensing system integrating nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (NCDs) modified paper strip was proposed, and the physicochemical properties of NCDs were characterized by high resolution TEM, FTIR, UV–vis absorption spectrum and fluorescence spectral analysis. The modified paper strip was prepared via “ink-jet” printing technology and exhibits sensitive fluorescence response to Hg2+ with fluorescence color of bright blue (at the excitation/emission wavelength of 365/440 nm). This portable smartphone-based sensing platform is highly selective and sensitive to Hg2+ with the limit of detection (LOD) of 10.6 nM and the concentration range of 0–130 nM. In addition, the recoveries of tap water and local lake water were in the range of 89.4% to 109%. The cost-effective sensing system based on smartphone shows a great potential for trace amounts of Hg2+ monitoring in environmental water samples.

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Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the supports of the Young and Middle-aged Research Fund Project of Qinghai Normal University (KJQN2022012, KJQN2021008).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Qinghai Normal University, ** Zhou

Authors
  1. Bo Yin
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  2. Rong** Zhou
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  3. Zhonglong Guo
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  4. **g Sun
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  5. Jihua Zhu
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  6. Zhenbin Wang
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  7. Cunhua Ma
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  8. Ming** Zhang
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Contributions

Bo Yin and Ming** Zhang wrote the main manuscript text. Bo Yin, Rong** Zhou and Zhonglong Guo carried out the experiment, and **g Sun accomplished tbe synthesis of NCDs. Jihua Zhu, Zhenbin Wang and Cunhua Ma prepared the all figures.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Bo Yin or Ming** Zhang.

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Yin, B., Zhou, R., Guo, Z. et al. A Smartphone-Based Sensing for Portable and Sensitive Visual Detection of Hg (II) via Nitrogen Doped Carbon Quantum Dots Modified Paper Strip. J Fluoresc (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-023-03439-1

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