Utilizing green zinc oxide nanoparticles as a sensing platform for ascorbic acid

We prepared zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) via a green synthesis and used them for the fluorescence sensing of ascorbic acid (AA). For obtaining these nanoparticles, we used an extract from Batavia lettuce as a reducing agent for zinc acetate in a simple, fast, and environmentally friendly synthesis. The ZnO NPs were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), photoluminescence, point of zero-charge (pH(pzc)), and chromaticity studies. We verified that the ZnO NPs had an average diameter of 6 nm, with a wurtzite crystalline structure, and when excited at 320 nm emitted radiation in the blue region. The methodology for AA detection is based on the observed increase in fluorescence of the molecule complex formed on the ZnO NPs surface after 20 min of interaction. The results indicated that the proposed technique of analysis is fast, simple, and highly sensitive, with a detection limit for AA of 5.15 mu M. Furthermore, the nanoparticles presented excellent photostability for at least 30 days, and low sensitivity to other biological organic molecules. The green ZnO NPs also exhibited an efficient response to the presence of AA in actual complex samples, suggesting that the platform here proposed can find use in clinical analysis protocols.