DMF-mediated synthesis of N,S-co-doped carbon quantum dots and their fluorescence quenching mechanism toward Hg 2+ via surface complexation

Key Points

• To synthesize nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon quantum dots (N,S-CQDs) and evaluate their fluorescence quenching mechanism for mercury ions.
• Used waste lemon peel as the carbon source
• Applied a one-step hydrothermal method
• Utilized glutathione as the N,S dopant
• Conducted experiments in a dimethylformamide (DMF) medium
• N,S-CQDs successfully synthesized using lemon peel and glutathione
• Fluorescence quenching of N,S-CQDs observed in the presence of Hg2+
• The quenching mechanism identified as surface complexation