Turn-on fluorescent detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) based on glutathione-capped CdTe/ZnS core/shell quantum dot (QDs)–graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite: experimental and computational studies

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department Chemistry, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

2 Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

10.22126/anc.2021.6722.1030

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous pollutants in our environment and their importance appears from their toxicity and carcinogenicity to humans. Water can become contaminated with PAHs from different sources such as runoff in urban areas, wastewater from specific industries, and petroleum spills. Herein, an efficient turn-on fluorescence sensor, based on covalently-linked glutathione (GSH)-capped CdTe/ZnS core/shell quantum dot (QDs)–graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite was developed for PAHs sensing. The fluorescence emission of the QDs–GO nanocomposite was increased relative to the unconjugated QDs. Various techniques including TEM, SEM, XRD, FT-IR, UV/Vis, and fluorescence spectrophotometry were employed to characterize the QDs and the QDs–GO nanocomposite. Naphthalene, as a model of PAHS, was selected for further studies as the fluorescence enhancement. A limit of detection (LOD) of 7.71 × 10-8 mol L-1 was obtained for naphthalene under optimum conditions.

Graphical Abstract

Turn-on fluorescent detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) based on glutathione-capped CdTe/ZnS core/shell quantum dot (QDs)–graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite: experimental and computational studies

Keywords