Recent advances in carbon quantum dot-based sensing of heavy metals in water

Abstract A diverse range of materials (e.g., metallic nanoparticles, semiconductor oxides, composites, polymers, and MOFs) have been reported for sensing applications in water samples based on several transduction techniques (e.g., absorbance, fluorescence, Raman, colorimetry, voltammetry, and plasmon resonance). Recently, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have gained significant interest as fluorescent and small carbonaceous nanostructures for designing sensing devices (either as-produced or through modification) for heavy metals due to their excellent properties (e.g., photostability, facile surface modification, optical tunability, and environmental friendliness). This review provides a comprehensive overview on the role of CQDs as sensors for heavy metals in water. This work will help open up opportunities for the use of CQDs under the diverse field conditions.