Molybdenum oxide quantum dots prepared via a one-step stirring strategy and their application as fluorescent probes for pyrophosphate sensing and efficient antibacterial materials

MoOₓ quantum dots (QDs) were prepared using a one-step stirring treatment of molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃) powder in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Besides their highly sensitive label-free metal ion and pyrophosphate sensing, the antibacterial activity of the as-prepared MoOₓ QDs was discovered for the first time.