We
report a facile and effective luminescence method for the determination
of the WO4
2– ion in aqueous medium at
initial pH = 6.3. This is achieved using 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid-capped
CaF2:Tb3+ (5%) nanocrystals (NCs) as a luminescent
probe. This is accomplished based on the energy transfer luminescence
from the WO4
2– ion to the Tb3+ ion in small-size CaF2:Tb3+ NCs. Hydroxyl
groups on the surface ligand helps in binding the tungstate ion to
the surface of the NCs. With the gradual addition of the WO4
2– ion, the intensity of the Tb3+ excitation
and emission spectra significantly increased. The linear range of
the detection was from 1 to 10 μM for the WO4
2– ion (R
2 = 0.99). The
calculated detection limit was 0.4 μM (by applying the 3σ/K
criterion).