Carbon Dots Synthesized and its Applications in the Detection of Chlortetracycline and Water Based on the Aggregation‐Induced Emission

Abstract In recent years, carbon dots (CDs) have attracted widespread attention for their unique structure and excellent optical properties. In this study, orange‐red emission CDs were prepared using the one‐pot solvothermal carbonization method in ethanol medium. The fluorescence of the CDs was enhanced significantly in the presence of chlortetracycline (CTC), which was accompanied by the blue shift of emission wavelength in ethanol medium, and the enhancement of fluorescence intensity was proportional to CTC concentration in the range of 1.00×10 −8 to 5.00×10 −6 mol/L with the detection limit of 3.30 nmol/L. As revealed by the mechanism study, the enhanced fluorescence of the CDs by CTC was attributed to the aggregation‐induced emission (AIE). Besides, the AIE effect on the mixture of CDs and CTC was down‐regulated significantly in the presence of water, while the down‐regulated fluorescence intensity was proportional to water concentration in the range between 2.21×10 −4 and 1.35×10 −3 mol/L with the detection limit of 3.29×10 −5 mol/L. Based on the above‐mentioned fact, a simple method for dual response to CTC and trace water was developed, and it exhibited excellent sensitivity and selectivity.