Selective Detection of Nitrofurantoin by Carbon Dots with Blue-Emissive Fluorescence

Carbon dots (CDs) with superior fluorescence properties was synthesized via hydrothermal strategy from orange peel at 190 degrees C for 4 h. Some excellent properties of good solubility, strong stability and uniform size distribution were successfully obtained. The optimum emission wavelength was 436 nm when excitation wavelength was located at 365 nm. Intriguingly, the fluorescence of CDs was selectively quenched by nitrofurantoin (Nit), while possible interferes had little effects. Combined with different characterization results, quenching mechanism was ascribed to static quenching and inner filter effect (IFE). Good linear relationship from 0.5 to 110 mu M and detection limit of 0.081 mu M were presented in the determination of Nit. When compared with some other analytical methods, CDs in this work possessed wider linear relationship or lower detection limit. Significantly, satisfactory recovery experiments in bovine serum samples proved the possibility for Nit sensing in practical use.