Detection of Fe3+ ions in aqueous environment using fluorescent carbon quantum dots synthesized from endosperm of Borassus flabellifer

Natural products derived carbon quantum dots (CQDs) catch huge attention owing to their distinctive properties of smaller size, water dispersibility, high photostability, lower cost, tunable emission, biocompatibility, least toxicity, electrical conductivity, optical and catalytic properties, and easy modification. Herein high fluorescent CQDs were prepared using Borassus flabellifer (ice apple) as a carbon source utilizing the simplistic one-step hydrothermal method. The prepared CQDs possessed excellent photoluminescence, high photostability, and stability in an aqueous solution and harbored large of quantum yield and strong stability in high pH conditions with the characteristic strong blue fluorescence emission. With these superior properties, the CQDs have been used as sensing probes for the detection of Fe³⁺ ions having excellent selectivity and sensitivity with a 2.01 μM limit of detection. The CQDs decorated probe was found effective in detecting Fe³⁺ ions in the tap and drinking mineral water, suggesting the applicability of the prepared sensor. The developed sensor exhibited advantages, including simple, low-cost, label-free, rapid, and good sensitivity and selectivity towards Fe³⁺ ions, with a great application for detection of such ions in real water.