Green-synthesized amino-rich carbon quantum dots: A dual-function platform for fluorescent detection of heavy metals and degradation of malachite green dye

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Journal of Water Process Engineering

Publication Date

9-1-2025

Abstract

This study reports the first synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (NCQDs) derived from the tropical plant Litsea glutinosa using an environmentally friendly and time-efficient hydrothermal method. The biowaste-derived NCQDs were integrated into a TiO₂ nanocomposite to form a heterojunction photocatalyst, significantly enhancing the photocatalytic degradation of malachite green (MG) dye under visible light. The NCQDs also served as effective sensors for detecting Cu2+ and Hg2+ ions in aqueous solutions, with detection limits of 0.1 μM and 0.2 μM, respectively, effectively overcoming the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) quenching mechanism. Comprehensive characterization using FTIR, FESEM-EDX, XRD, XPS, zeta potential, Raman, and HR-TEM confirmed the optical, structural, and morphological properties of the NCQDs. The NCQDs exhibited strong and stable green fluorescence. The NCQDs/TiO₂ composite achieved a 96 % degradation of MG dye within 70 min under visible light, outperforming TiO₂ or NCQDs alone. This research presents a sustainable and cost-effective approach to synthesizing functional nanomaterials from natural resources, offering promising applications for environmental remediation through efficient dye degradation and the detection of heavy metals.

ISSN

2214-7144

Publisher

Elsevier BV

Volume

77

Disciplines

Life Sciences

Keywords

Carbon quantum dots, Dye degradation, Fluorescent sensors, Malachite green, Toxic heavy metals

Scopus ID

105012615527

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

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