Synthesis of Lanthanide-Functionalized Carbon Quantum Dots for Chemical Sensing and Photocatalytic Application

• Main Authors: Fu-Ran Zou, Sai-Nan Wang, Fang-Fang Wang, Dan Liu, Ying Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
• Series: Catalysts
• Subjects: CQDs; lanthanide; chemical-sensing; photocatalytic properties
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/10/8/833

Tunable photoluminescent-functionalized carbon quantum dots CQDs@Ln (TFA)₃ (Ln = Eu, Tb; TFA: trifluoroacetylacetone) were designed and synthesized by introducing lanthanide complexes into the modified CQDs surface through the carboxyl group. The as-prepared CQDs@Ln (TFA)₃ emit strong blue–green light with the peak at 435 nm and simultaneously show the characteristic emission of Ln³⁺ under irradiation of 365 nm light in aqueous solution. Moreover, these functionalized CQDs exhibit excellent photoluminescence properties. In addition, a white luminescent solution CQDs@Eu/Tb (TFA)₃ was obtained by adjusting the ratio of Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺ and the excitation wavelengths. Moreover, CQDs@Tb (TFA)₃ can be utilized as a fluorescent probe for the sensitive and selective detection of MnO₄⁻ without interference from other ions in aqueous solution. These results provide the meaningful data for the multicomponent assembly and the photoluminescent-functionalized materials based on the modified CQDs and lanthanide, which can be expected to have potential application in photocatalytic or sensors.