A pH-regulated fluorescence covalent organic framework for quantitative water content detection in methanol.

In this paper, we designed and synthesized a two-dimensional fluorescent covalent organic framework (TAPB-DMTP-COF) for the precise determination of H2O content in methanol. The COF was synthesized using two typical monomers by grinding method, which significantly reduced the synthesis time. By adjusting the pH value of the COF suspension to 4.0, the portion of the COF material structure is disrupted, thereby mitigating π-π stacking and resolving the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect. Consequently, the non-fluorescent TAPB-DMTP-COF exhibited blue-purple fluorescence emission in methanol. At the same time, it is observed that in the presence of H2O, there is a red shift in the maximum fluorescence emission peak of TAPB-DMTP-COF, which correlates with the H2O content within a specific range. Notably, this redshift demonstrates a linear relationship with H2O content from 4% to 80% in methanol. Our work presents novel insights for efficient analysis and detection of H2O content in methanol and could be used for H2O detection in other organic solvents.

Highly selective and rapid detection of silver ions by using a "turn on" non-fluorescent cysteine stabilized gold nanocluster probe.

Cysteine is widely used as a stabilizer for the preparation of fluorescent gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) with different fluorescence properties. Herein, by using cysteine as a stabilizer and controlling the synthesis conditions, a new non-fluorescent cysteine stabilized gold nanocluster (Cys-Au NCs) probe was prepared and a new strategy for "turning on" the fluorescence of the Cys-Au NCs was studied for rapid and selective detection of silver ions. In this strategy, the addition of silver ions to non-fluorescent Cys-Au NCs solution could quickly induce a visible fluorescence "turn on" phenomenon in 30 s. Further studies indicated that this fluorescence "turn on" phenomenon is specific for silver ions and the "turn on" fluorescence intensity has a linear relationship with the amount of silver ions in the range from 3.0 to 30.0 µM. Therefore, the non-fluorescent Cys-Au NCs were applied to the detection of silver ions in environmental water samples and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.26 µM was obtained. This research sheds light on new applications of Au NCs and proposes a simple, rapid, sensitive, and visual method for the detection of metal ions.

Glutathione stabilized green-emission gold nanoclusters for selective detection of cobalt ion.

A glutathione stabilized Au nanoclusters (GSH-Au NCs) was synthesized here and used to selective detection of cobalt ion. The as-prepared GSH-Au NCs had strong green light emission around 500 nm, and the features of the NCs have been systematically characterized by UV-vis absorption, X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopic, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope characterization. The interactions between the GSH-Au NCs and metal ions was studied, and the results indicated that the fluorescence of the GSH-Au NCs could be quenched in the presence of Co2+ ion at pH of 6.0. The quenching ratio was linear with the concentration of Co2+ ions, and the calibration curve was I0/I = 0.1187cco + 0.6085 in the Co2+ concentration ranges from 2.0 to 50.0 µM with correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.9950 and the limit of detection (LOD, 3σ) of 0.124 µM. In addition, we collected environmental water samples to test the reliability of the method and demonstrated this method is simple, rapid, and selective.

Rapid synthesis of cesium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals by l-lysine assisted solid-phase reaction at room temperature.

Nowadays, there are many ways to obtain cesium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals. In addition to the synthesis methods carried out in solution, the solid-phase synthesis was reported involving grinding and milling. In this paper, we synthesized luminescent CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) by three solid-phase synthesis methods (grinding, knocking, stirring) using l-lysine as a ligand. This is the first attempt to use an amino acid for assisting the solid phase synthesis of perovskite and to study the difference in the products obtained by the three solid phase synthesis methods. The results show that the productivity of the solid-phase synthesis methods can be greatly improved by adding l-lysine and the perovskites obtained by the methods are more resistant to water due to the addition of l-lysine. The simplicity of the synthesis process expanded the use of solid-phase synthesis to obtain more perovskites and provided potential applications of perovskite in analytical detection and sensing in aqueous solution.

Fluorescent carbon quantum dots synthesized using phenylalanine and citric acid for selective detection of Fe3+ ions.

A facile, economical and one-step hydrothermal method was used to synthesize fluorescent carbon dots by utilizing citric acid as carbon source and phenylalanine to provide nitrogen. The as-prepared fluorescence carbon dots had strong blue light emission around 440 nm. As confirmed by UVvis absorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope characterization, the carbon dots were small and very stable in water for using as a fluorescent probe. It was also found that the fluorescence of the carbon dots could be quenched in the presence of Fe3+ ions, and the quenching rate was linear with the concentration of Fe3+ ions. We here proposed a static quenching mechanism about the fluorescence of the Phe-CDs could be selectively quenched by Fe3+ ions, which was because these Fe3+ ions could easily combine with the hydroxyl or carboxyl groups on the surface of Phe-CDs and induced aggregation. In addition, the pH had little effect on the fluorescence intensity of the Phe-CDs and maintained excellent fluorescence intensity even under extreme pH value conditions and could be used for the detection of Fe3+ ions. We have demonstrated that the method using the carbon dots for Fe3+ ions detection was rapid, reliable, and selective with a detection limit as low as 0.720 µM and a dynamic range from 5.0 to 500.0 µM. Moreover, the results of determination Fe3+ ions in tap water samples indicated that the presented method has potential for practical application in environmental metal analysis.