Effect of Synthesis Methods and Conditions on Properties and Applications of Carbon Dots for the Detection of Potential Water Contaminants: A Review

Abstract

The worldwide pollution of water bodies by potential contaminants such as heavy metals, dyes, and pesticides etc. have severely affected the entire eco-system due to their toxic mobility and tough degradation in water. Consequently, there is a requirement to develop cost-competitive and easily handleable sensing materials which can detect targets sensitively and with selectivity. Among the low-cost sensory materials, carbon dots (CDs) constitute an important class of carbon nanomaterial with unique photostability, electronic and fluorescent properties. This review is an effort to comprehend the recent improvements in the sensing applications of CDs with prominence on synthetic routes, the effect of various synthesis parameters on physical properties (quantum yield, size range), detection mechanisms, and detection parameters (limit of detection, interference etc.). Particularly, the scope and progress for the detection of potential water contaminants using CDs have been explored and a holistic view of mechanisms of their detection has been included.

Graphical Abstract

Holistic view of mechanisms for different types of signals generated by CDs.

Keywords:

• Carbon dots
• water contaminants
• sensor
• optical sensor
• nanoprobes

Acknowledgements

V.M. is thankful to SERB for National Post-Doctoral Fellowship (File No: PDF/2017/002750). S.S. is grateful to SERB, for the National Post-Doctoral Fellowship (File No: PDF/2017/002828). H.K. is thankful to DST for the (File No: DST/WOS-B/WWM-9/2021).