Composite Eu-MOF@CQDs “off & on” ratiometric luminescent probe for highly sensitive chiral detection of l-lysine and 2-methoxybenzaldehyde

The high amount of l-lysine can increase the potential risk of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, 2-methoxy benzaldehyde (2-MB) has high toxicity and can easily pollute the environment. In this work, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) can be encapsulated into Eu-BTB (H3BTB = 1,3,5-tri(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene), forming the multi-emission composite material Eu-BTB@CQDs. It has two emissions peaks (617 nm for Eu and 470 nm for CQDs). Eu-BTB@CQDs can be applied as bi-functional ratiometric "off & on" luminescent sensor for l-lysine and 2-MB with high sensitivity and selectivity, the low limit of detection (LOD) for l-lysine is 3.68 µmol/L and for 2-MB is 0.54 µmol/L, respectively. Additionally, Eu-BTB@CQDs can quantitatively discriminate l-lysine in the mixed d- and l-lysine water solutions (five different concentrations ratio of l/d-lysine has been set) makes the chiral detection of l-lysine are more meaningful. On the other hand, Eu-BTB@CQDs also can detect 2-MB over 4-methoxybenzaldehyde (4-MB) with high selectivity. Further the detection of 2-MB and l-lysine in the lake water real samples with the reasonable recovery rate. Finally, the detection mechanisms for l-lysine and 2-MB were also investigated and discussed in detail.