Aminoboronic acid-functionalized graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots for the photoluminescence multi-chemical sensing probe

• Published in: Dyes and pigments Vol. 168; pp. 180 - 188
• Main Authors: Thi Ngo, Yen-Linh, Chung, Jin Suk, Hur, Seung Hyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2019
• Subjects: 3-Aminophenylboronic acid; Fluorescence; Glucose sensor; Graphitic carbon nitride; Multi-chemical sensor; Quantum dots; Fluorescence; Multi-chemical sensor; 3-Aminophenylboronic acid; Glucose sensor; Quantum dots; Graphitic carbon nitride
• ISSN: 0143-7208; 1873-3743
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dyepig.2019.04.065

This paper reports a highly sensitive photoluminescence glucose sensor based on aminoboronic acid-functionalized carbon nitride quantum dots (g-CNQDs/3APBA) fabricated using melamine and 3-aminophenylboronic acid via a facile two-step synthesis process. By introducing the covalent bonds between g-CNQDs and boronic acid groups, it can be effectively used as “on-off-on” based multi-chemical sensor. The g-CNQDs/3APBA exhibited quantum yields (QYs) as high as 78.5%, which is the highest QYs among fluorescence sensors based on g-CNQDs reported thus far. The material showed a wide linear range of 0–10 mM and a detection limit as low as 42 nM with excellent selectivity. In addition, it exhibited comparable performance compared to those of a commercial glucometer in a real blood test. Owing to the excellent bio-imaging properties and low cytotoxicity, g-CNQDs/3APBA is a promising candidate as a sensing material for biomedical and clinical applications.
•Aminoboronic acid functionalized carbon nitride quantum dots (g-CNQDs/3APBA) were fabricated using a facile two-step process.•The g-CNQDs/3APBA exhibited as high as 78.5% quantum yields with a wide linear range and a low detection limit.•The g-CNQDs/3APBA showed “on-off-on” type multi-chemical sensing characteristics.