This work presents
a microwave-based green synthesis method for
producing carbon nanospheres (CNSs) and investigates the impact of
presynthesis pH on their size and assembly. The resulting CNSs are
monodispersed, averaging 35 nm in size, and exhibit notable characteristics
including high water solubility, photostability, and a narrow size
distribution, achieved within a synthesis time of 15 min. The synthesized
CNS features functional groups such as −OH, −COOH, –NH,
−C–O–C, C–H, and −CH. This
diversity empowers the CNS for various applications including sensing.
The CNS exhibits a distinct UV peak at 282 nm and emits intense fluorescence
at 430 nm upon excitation at 350 nm. These functionalized CNSs enable
selective and specific sensing of Cu2+ ions and the amino
acid tryptophan (Trp) in aqueous solutions. In the presence of Cu2+ ions, static-based quenching of CNS fluorescence was observed
due to the chelation-enhanced quenching (CHEQ) effect. Notably, Cu2+ ions induce a substantial change in UV spectra alongside
a red-shift in the peak position. The limits of detection and quantification
for Cu2+ ions with CNS are determined as 0.73 and 2.45
μg/mL, respectively. Additionally, on interaction with tryptophan,
the UV spectra of CNS display a marked increase in the peak at 282
nm, accompanied by a red-shift phenomenon. The limits of detection
and quantification for l-tryptophan are 4.510 × 10–3 and 1.50 × 10–2 μg/mL,
respectively, indicating its significant potential for biological
applications. Furthermore, the practical applicability of CNSs is
demonstrated by their successful implementation in analyzing real
water samples and filter paper-based examination, showcasing their
effectiveness for on-site sensing.