Fluorescent ZnCdSe/ZnS QDs probes for sensitive copper (II) detection

Abstract

Considering the fact that copper (II) (Cu 2+) act as a dietary need but toxic metal ions, its detection and quantification is very much important for human healthy diet and environmental risk assessment. Herein, we introduced a sensitive fluorescence sensor for the detection of Cu 2+ based on ZnCdSe/ZnS QDs, whose fluorescence quenching was well linear with Cu 2+ concentration. And a detection limit as low as 5 nM was obtained. Moreover, the recovery experiment was performed and the satisfactory recovery rate was obtained. The results indicated that the proposed ZnCdSe/ZnS QDs probes possessed a good performance for the detection of Cu 2+. Therefore, a effective fluorescence sensor was developed for the detection of Cu 2+ at a sensitive level.