Jacobaea vulgaris derived carbon dots with nitrogen and sulfur doping for toxin sensing

Tools

Chauhan, Pooja and Vijeata, Anjali and Chaudhary, Ganga Ram and Wark, Alastair and Chaudhary, Savita (2025) Jacobaea vulgaris derived carbon dots with nitrogen and sulfur doping for toxin sensing. Microchemical Journal, 217. 115040. ISSN 0026-265X (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2025.115040)

[thumbnail of MicroChemical-2025-Chauhan-etal-Jacobaea-vulgaris-derived-carbon-dots-with-nitrogen-and-sulfur-doping-for-toxin-sensing]
Preview
 Text. Filename: MicroChemical-2025-Chauhan-etal-Jacobaea-vulgaris-derived-carbon-dots-with-nitrogen-and-sulfur-doping-for-toxin-sensing.pdf
Accepted Author Manuscript
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 logo
Download (1MB)| Preview

Abstract

Metal ion contamination in the environment has significant implications for biological systems and is closely associated with the onset and progression of various chronic diseases in humans. To address this growing concern, the development of greener and more sustainable sensing technologies is of paramount importance. In this study, a novel and eco-friendly approach was undertaken by synthesizing three distinct types of carbon dots (C-dots) derived from the stem, leaves, and flowers of Jacobaea vulgaris as biomass precursors. The C-dots were fabricated through a calcination process, followed by their nitrogen and sulfur doping using melamine and cysteine, respectively, as dopant sources. The developed pure, N-doped, S-doped C-dots exhibited bright blue emissions and were further explored for their structural and morphological properties via different characterization techniques. Fluorescence studies revealed that the pure, N-doped, and S-doped C-dots exhibited selective and distinct fluorescence quenching in the presence of Fe3+, Pb2+, and Hg2+ ions, respectively. This quenching behavior is attributed to the formation of non-fluorescent ground-state complexes between the C-dots and the respective metal ions. Real time analysis carried out using river/canal water demonstrated high efficacy and reliability of all three developed sensors. This research highlights the potential of utilizing a single biomass source to produce functionally diverse C-dots for the selective detection of multiple heavy metal ions without the utilization of hazardous chemicals, thereby contributing to the advancement of environmentally benign sensing technologies.

ORCID iDs

Chauhan, Pooja, Vijeata, Anjali, Chaudhary, Ganga Ram, Wark, Alastair ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8736-7566 and Chaudhary, Savita;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)