Fluorescence sensing of chromium (VI) and ascorbic acid using graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets as a fluorescent "switch".

Using graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets, an effective and facile fluorescence sensing approach for the label-free and selective determination of chromium (VI) (Cr(VI)) was developed. The fluorescence of the solution of g-C3N4 nanosheets was quenched effectively by Cr(VI) via the inner filter effect. Under optimal conditions, a wide detection linear range for Cr(VI) was found to be from 0.6 μM to 300 μM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.15 μM. In addition, the fluorescence of the solution of g-C3N4 nanosheets-Cr(VI) could be sensitively turned on in the presence of a reductant such as ascorbic acid (AA) via an "on-off-on" fluorescence response through the oxidation-reduction between Cr(VI) and AA. And a wide detection linear range for AA was found to be from 0.5 μM to 200 μM with an LOD of 0.13 μM. Furthermore, the proposed method has the potential application for detection of Cr(VI) in lake waters and AA in biological fluids.

[1]  M. Ganjali,et al.  A novel dichromate-sensitive fluorescent nano-chemosensor using new functionalized SBA-15. , 2012, Analytica chimica acta.

[2]  Qian Liu,et al.  Ultrathin graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet: a highly efficient fluorosensor for rapid, ultrasensitive detection of Cu(2+). , 2013, Analytical chemistry.

[3]  Xiu‐Ping Yan,et al.  Chemical redox modulation of the surface chemistry of CdTe quantum dots for probing ascorbic acid in biological fluids. , 2009, Small.

[4]  S. Kanwal,et al.  Polymers effects on synthesis of AuNPs, and Au/Ag nanoalloys: indirectly generated AuNPs and versatile sensing applications including anti-leukemic agent. , 2014, Biosensors & bioelectronics.

[5]  Juan Li,et al.  Turn-on fluorescence sensor for intracellular imaging of glutathione using g-C₃N₄ nanosheet-MnO₂ sandwich nanocomposite. , 2014, Analytical chemistry.

[6]  Jiaxing Li,et al.  Polymer nanodots of graphitic carbon nitride as effective fluorescent probes for the detection of Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions. , 2014, Nanoscale.

[7]  J. Ščančar,et al.  A critical overview of Cr speciation analysis based on high performance liquid chromatography and spectrometric techniques , 2014 .

[8]  Fan Zuo,et al.  Branched WO3 Nanosheet Array with Layered C3N4 Heterojunctions and CoOx Nanoparticles as a Flexible Photoanode for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation , 2014, Advanced materials.

[9]  Hongjun Zhu,et al.  Novel, highly selective detection of Cr(III) in aqueous solution based on a gold nanoparticles colorimetric assay and its application for determining Cr(VI). , 2012, Analytica chimica acta.

[10]  X. Jing,et al.  On-off-on fluorescent carbon dot nanosensor for recognition of chromium(VI) and ascorbic acid based on the inner filter effect. , 2013, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[11]  Yongxin Li,et al.  Simultaneous electroanalysis of dopamine, ascorbic acid and uric acid by poly (vinyl alcohol) covalently modified glassy carbon electrode , 2006 .

[12]  Orawon Chailapakul,et al.  A microfluidic paper-based analytical device for rapid quantification of particulate chromium. , 2013, Analytica chimica acta.

[13]  M. G. Lobo,et al.  Determination of vitamin C in tropical fruits: A comparative evaluation of methods , 2006 .

[14]  Zhi-Ming Li,et al.  Non-aggregation based label free colorimetric sensor for the detection of Cr (VI) based on selective etching of gold nanorods , 2011 .

[15]  Stephen D. Reynolds,et al.  Review of the Evidence Regarding the Carcinogenicity of Hexavalent Chromium in Drinking Water , 2006, Journal of environmental science and health. Part C, Environmental carcinogenesis & ecotoxicology reviews.

[16]  Sudip Barman,et al.  Facile bulk production of highly blue fluorescent graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots and their application as highly selective and sensitive sensors for the detection of mercuric and iodide ions in aqueous media , 2012 .

[17]  Mietek Jaroniec,et al.  Graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet-carbon nanotube three-dimensional porous composites as high-performance oxygen evolution electrocatalysts. , 2014, Angewandte Chemie.

[18]  M. Valderrama,et al.  Determination of chromium in urine samples by complexation-supercritical fluid extraction and liquid or gas chromatography. , 2003, Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences.

[19]  Motao Zhu,et al.  Using ion-pair reversed-phase HPLC ICP-MS to simultaneously determine Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in urine of chromate workers. , 2010, Talanta.

[20]  Abdullah M. Asiri,et al.  Ultrathin graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets: a novel peroxidase mimetic, Fe doping-mediated catalytic performance enhancement and application to rapid, highly sensitive optical detection of glucose. , 2013, Nanoscale.

[21]  Porun Liu,et al.  Cross-linked g-C3 N4 /rGO nanocomposites with tunable band structure and enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity. , 2013, Small.

[22]  Lichun Zhang,et al.  Carbon nitride quantum dots: a novel chemiluminescence system for selective detection of free chlorine in water. , 2014, Analytical chemistry.

[23]  Xiao-yan Li,et al.  Reduction of hexavalent chromium by ascorbic acid in aqueous solutions. , 2004, Chemosphere.

[24]  Guonan Chen,et al.  Preparation of graphite-like carbon nitride nanoflake film with strong fluorescent and electrochemiluminescent activity. , 2013, Nanoscale.

[25]  Y. Sakai,et al.  Phthalocyanine-based fluorescence probes for detecting ascorbic acid: phthalocyaninatosilicon covalently linked to TEMPO radicals. , 2011, Chemical communications.

[26]  Can Yang,et al.  Nanospherical Carbon Nitride Frameworks with Sharp Edges Accelerating Charge Collection and Separation at a Soft Photocatalytic Interface , 2014, Advanced materials.

[27]  J. Xu,et al.  Chemical exfoliation of graphitic carbon nitride for efficient heterogeneous photocatalysis , 2013 .

[28]  Martin M. F. Choi,et al.  Electrogenerated chemiluminescence behavior of graphite-like carbon nitride and its application in selective sensing Cu2+. , 2012, Analytical chemistry.

[29]  Bicai Pan,et al.  Enhanced photoresponsive ultrathin graphitic-phase C3N4 nanosheets for bioimaging. , 2013, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[30]  J. Chwastowska,et al.  Speciation of chromium in mineral waters and salinas by solid-phase extraction and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. , 2005, Talanta.

[31]  M. Antonietti,et al.  A metal-free polymeric photocatalyst for hydrogen production from water under visible light. , 2009, Nature materials.

[32]  Abdullah M. Asiri,et al.  Ultrathin graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets: a low-cost, green, and highly efficient electrocatalyst toward the reduction of hydrogen peroxide and its glucose biosensing application. , 2013, Nanoscale.

[33]  T. C. Prathna,et al.  Selective colorimetric detection of nanomolar Cr (VI) in aqueous solutions using unmodified silver nanoparticles , 2012 .

[34]  P. Ajayan,et al.  Exfoliated Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanosheets as Efficient Catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Under Visible Light , 2013, Advanced materials.

[35]  Li Xu,et al.  Graphene-analogue carbon nitride: novel exfoliation synthesis and its application in photocatalysis and photoelectrochemical selective detection of trace amount of Cu²⁺. , 2014, Nanoscale.

[36]  V. Pavlov,et al.  DNA-decorated nanoparticles as nanosensors for rapid detection of ascorbic acid. , 2012, Biosensors & bioelectronics.

[37]  Yongdong Jin,et al.  11-Mercaptoundecanoic acid directed one-pot synthesis of water-soluble fluorescent gold nanoclusters and their use as probes for sensitive and selective detection of Cr3+ and Cr6+ , 2013 .

[38]  Arne Thomas,et al.  Cubic mesoporous graphitic carbon(IV) nitride: an all-in-one chemosensor for selective optical sensing of metal ions. , 2010, Angewandte Chemie.

[39]  Hongjie Song,et al.  Turn-on persistent luminescence probe based on graphitic carbon nitride for imaging detection of biothiols in biological fluids. , 2013, Analytical chemistry.

[40]  Na Li,et al.  A highly selective and instantaneous nanoprobe for detection and imaging of ascorbic acid in living cells and in vivo. , 2014, Analytical chemistry.

[41]  P. Domenico,et al.  Clinical studies on chromium picolinate supplementation in diabetes mellitus--a review. , 2006, Diabetes technology & therapeutics.

[42]  D. Xiao,et al.  Anodic electrogenerated chemiluminescence behavior of graphite-like carbon nitride and its sensing for rutin. , 2013, Analytical chemistry.

[43]  Dongxue Han,et al.  Ultrathin g-C3N4/TiO2 composites as photoelectrochemical elements for the real-time evaluation of global antioxidant capacity , 2014 .

[44]  Guonan Chen,et al.  Graphitic-phase C3N4 nanosheets as efficient photosensitizers and pH-responsive drug nanocarriers for cancer imaging and therapy. , 2014, Journal of materials chemistry. B.

[45]  Hui‐Ming Cheng,et al.  Graphene‐Like Carbon Nitride Nanosheets for Improved Photocatalytic Activities , 2012 .

[46]  Tianran Lin,et al.  Graphite-like carbon nitrides as peroxidase mimetics and their applications to glucose detection. , 2014, Biosensors & bioelectronics.

[47]  L. Qi,et al.  Determination of chromium(VI) by surface plasmon field-enhanced resonance light scattering. , 2007, Analytical chemistry.

[48]  S. Balasubramanian,et al.  Determination of total chromium in tannery waste water by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, flame atomic absorption spectrometry and UV-visible spectrophotometric methods. , 1999, Talanta.

[49]  Yunpei Zhu,et al.  Carbon-Doped ZnO Hybridized Homogeneously with Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanocomposites for Photocatalysis , 2014 .

[50]  P. Ajayan,et al.  Pt‐Decorated 3D Architectures Built from Graphene and Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanosheets as Efficient Methanol Oxidation Catalysts , 2014, Advanced materials.

[51]  Aicheng Chen,et al.  Sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of chromium(VI) based on gold nanoparticle-decorated titania nanotube arrays. , 2014, The Analyst.

[52]  Jun Wang,et al.  Single‐Layered Graphitic‐C3N4 Quantum Dots for Two‐Photon Fluorescence Imaging of Cellular Nucleus , 2014, Advanced materials.