TY - JOUR
T1 - Synthesis of Cellulose-Based Fluorescent Carbon Dots for the Detection of Fe(III) in Aqueous Solutions
AU - Magagula, Lindokuhle P.
AU - Masemola, Clinton M.
AU - Motaung, Tshwafo E.
AU - Moloto, Nosipho
AU - Linganiso-Dziike, Ella C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 by the authors.
PY - 2025/1
Y1 - 2025/1
N2 - The need for eco-friendly, cost-effective, and scalable methods to synthesize carbon quantum dots (CQDs) remains a critical goal in nanotechnology. In this work, nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) were successfully synthesized using cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) derived from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and urea through a rapid one-step microwave-assisted method. The use of renewable cellulose as a precursor aligns with sustainable practices, offering a pathway to transform agricultural waste into valuable nanomaterials. Characterized by TEM, XRD, Raman, XPS, and PL spectroscopy, the N-CQDs demonstrated outstanding optical properties, including strong excitation-dependent fluorescence with an emission maximum at 420 nm. The N-CQDs exhibited exceptional selectivity and sensitivity toward Fe3+, achieving a detection limit of 75 nM. Additionally, the pH-dependent fluorescence and stability in diverse conditions highlight the N-CQDs’ versatility in environmental monitoring. This study establishes a foundation for using agricultural waste to produce high-performance nanostructures for sensing applications, advancing green nanotechnology and environmental solutions.
AB - The need for eco-friendly, cost-effective, and scalable methods to synthesize carbon quantum dots (CQDs) remains a critical goal in nanotechnology. In this work, nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) were successfully synthesized using cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) derived from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and urea through a rapid one-step microwave-assisted method. The use of renewable cellulose as a precursor aligns with sustainable practices, offering a pathway to transform agricultural waste into valuable nanomaterials. Characterized by TEM, XRD, Raman, XPS, and PL spectroscopy, the N-CQDs demonstrated outstanding optical properties, including strong excitation-dependent fluorescence with an emission maximum at 420 nm. The N-CQDs exhibited exceptional selectivity and sensitivity toward Fe3+, achieving a detection limit of 75 nM. Additionally, the pH-dependent fluorescence and stability in diverse conditions highlight the N-CQDs’ versatility in environmental monitoring. This study establishes a foundation for using agricultural waste to produce high-performance nanostructures for sensing applications, advancing green nanotechnology and environmental solutions.
KW - Fe
KW - carbon quantum dots
KW - cellulose
KW - chemosensor
KW - fluorescence quenching
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85215813408&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/pr13010257
DO - 10.3390/pr13010257
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85215813408
SN - 2227-9717
VL - 13
JO - Processes
JF - Processes
IS - 1
M1 - 257
ER -
