Synthesis of highly fluorescent nitrogen and phosphorus doped carbon dots for the detection of Fe3+ ions in cancer cells

Abstract Highly fluorescent nitrogen and phosphorus‐doped carbon dots with a quantum yield 59% have been successfully synthesized from citric acid and di‐ammonium hydrogen phosphate by single step hydrothermal method. The synthesized carbon dots have high solubility as well as stability in aqueous medium. The as‐obtained carbon dots are well monodispersed with particle sizes 1.5–4 nm. Owing to a good tunable fluorescence property and biocompatibility, the carbon dots were applied for intercellular sensing of Fe 3+ ions as well as cancer cell imaging. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.