Rapid Screening of Oxygen States in Carbon Quantum Dots by Chemiluminescence Probe

Abstract

The oxygen states (O-states) of carbon quantum dots (CDs) play an important role, with regard to their optical properties and analytical applications. However, the rapid screening of O-states in CDs is still a great challenge, because of the complicated surface composition. In this study, it is found that the chemiluminescence (CL) intensity of prepared CDs in the presence of peroxynitrite (ONOO) is proportional to the content of C-O group-related O-states. The related mechanism discloses that the O-state-dependent CL is due to the fact that abundant C-O functional groups in CDs with high O-states could facilitate the electron transfer of the produced smaller energy gaps for strong CL emission. Hence, ONOO-induced CL can be utilized as a facile probe for the rapid screening of O-states in CDs with some advantages, such as rapid response, low cost, and easy operation. Its practicability is verified by detecting the CL of phosphorus-doped CDs with variable phosphorus-doping contents. The content of C-O group-related O-states in sulfur-/phosphorus-doped CDs measured by the proposed CL probe is consistent with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization. This strategy can also be extended to distinguish O-states in different types of nanoparticles by tuning the CL probe molecules.

Quantum dots‐based chemiluminescence probes: an overview

“…Confinement effects introduced into the CL field amplified CL emission from CDs. Furthermore, surface oxygenous functional groups in the CDs played an important role in CL intensity . Due to the correlation between CL intensity in the CDs−ONOO − mixed system and the content of C−O group‐related O states in CDs, a novel platform for screening O states in CDs was developed using a rapid, effective CL nanoprobe .…”

Carbon dots‐involved chemiluminescence: Recent advances and developments

“…Taking advantage of the online generated ONOO − CL system, Lu's group observed an interesting phenomenon. [67] As we know, the Figure 4). Thus, the CL intensity of the CDs-ONOO − system could supply a facile platform for screening of O-states in different CDs (such as S-CDs and P-CDs).…”

“…Taking advantage of the online generated ONOO − CL system, Lu's group observed an interesting phenomenon . As we know, the photophysical, chemical properties and analytical applications of CDs closely connected with their surface states, especially the oxygen states (O‐states).…”

“…Therefore, with increasing the content of C‐O group‐related O‐states in such CDs, the formation of new numerous smaller energy gaps would accelerate, and thus the CL emission efficiency of CDs* increased accordingly (Figure ). Thus, the CL intensity of the CDs–ONOO − system could supply a facile platform for screening of O‐states in different CDs (such as S‐CDs and P‐CDs) …”

“…Thus, the CL intensity of the CDs-ONOO − system could supply a facile platform for screening of O-states in different CDs (such as S-CDs and P-CDs). [67] As an inorganic and green CL system, H 2 O 2 reacts with NaHCO 3 to produce weak light with peroxymonocarbonate ion (HCO 4 − ) as the luminous species. [42] For more applications, carbon nanospheres (CNSs) were introduced into this system and found to enhance the weak CL greatly.…”