Highly sensitive and selective detection of Fe 3+ by utilizing carbon quantum dots as fluorescent probes

The carbon quantum dots (CDs) based on carbonization of citric acid and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris) in glycerinum as fluorescent probes for highly sensitive and selective detection of Fe3+ have been developed. The obtained CDs exhibit an excitation-dependent fluorescence behavior. The most intense fluorescence appears under 340 nm excitation and has a maximum emission peak at 414 nm. The CDs can keep good fluorescence intensity in a wide pH values from 2 to 11. The CDs can be used as highly sensitive and selective detection fluorescent probe of Fe3+, even in real sample analysis the CDs fluorescent probes can be used.