Fluorescent Carbon Dots: Aggregation-Induced Emission Enhancement, Application as Probe for CN and CrO, Sensing Strips and Bio-imaging Agent.

Fluorescent carbon dots (Trp-CDs) were prepared using tryptophan as precursor and were characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, powder-XRD, IR, Raman spectroscopy, C-NMR, UV-Vis, fluorescence and TEM. Trp-CDs exhibit poor fluorescence in 100% water but showed strong Aggregation Induced Emission (AIE) in ethanol and higher alcohols. The anion sensing study of Trp-CD revealed that it selectively detects CN and CrO and from fluorescence quenching titration study, quenching constant, LOD and range of detection were evaluated. The emission life-time of Trp-CD before and after addition of CN and CrO were measured, the decay curve before addition of anion was best fitted with a bi-exponential function with life-time of τ1 2.79 ns (10.74%) and τ2 18.93 ns (89.26%). The mechanistic study revealed that for CN, the fluorescence quenching is due to its interaction with protons attached to surface functional groups and for CrO, it is due to inner filter effect (IFE). Sensing strips were prepared by coating Trp-CDs onto various solid surfaces including agarose films and were used for detection of CN and CrO. Trp-CD was found to be nontoxic and biocompatible and used as staining agent for Artemia and Bacteria (Bacillus Subtilis, Pseudomonas) and detection of CN and CrO.