Rice Husk-Derived Carbon Quantum Dots-Based Dual-Mode Nanoprobe for Selective and Sensitive Detection of Fe3+ and Fluoroquinolones

Herein, eco-friendly, water-soluble, and fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with an average size of 8.3 nm were synthesized from rice husk (RH) using the hydrothermal method, and the CQDs were labeled as rice husk CQDs (RH-CQDs). The composition and surface functionalities were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. A study on the impact of pH and irradiation time on fluorescence affirmed the stability of RH-CQDs. The as-synthesized nanosensor has high selectivity and sensitivity for Fe3+ ions. Several photophysical studies were performed to investigate the interaction between RH-CQDs and Fe3+. Using the time-correlated single-photon technique, it is determined that the average lifetime value of RH-CQDs significantly decreases in the presence of Fe3+, which supports a dynamic quenching mechanism. The developed sensor exhibited excellent sensitivity with a detection limit in the nanomolar range (149 nM) with a wide linear range of 0–1300 nM for Fe3+ ions. The prepared nanosensor was also used to detect Fe3+ in a tablet supplement with high recoveries. Moreover, the RH-CQD nanoprobe was used to detect other analytes (fluoroquinolones) using the fluorescence enhancement technique. It showed high selectivity and sensitivity toward ofloxacin (OFX) and ciprofloxacin (CPX). The detection limits calculated were 150 nM and 127 nM with a linearity range of 50–1150 nM for OFX and CPX, respectively. The enhancement of the average lifetime value and quantum yield in the presence of OFX and CPX favors the increased fluorescence property of RH-CQDs through hydrogen bonding and charge transfer. In this work, the integration of two different mechanisms (fluorescence quenching and fluorescence enhancement) was followed to construct a single sensing platform for accurate quantification of dual-mode nanosensors for the detection of metal ions and fluoroquinolones by the excited-state electron transfer and hydrogen bonding mechanism, respectively. This strategy also stimulates the detection of more than one analyte.