A novel fluorescent method for the detection of Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions based on zero-valent iron nanoclusters

Abstract

Zero-valent iron nanoclusters (Fe NCs), as an emerging iron-based nanomaterial, were widely utilized in water treatment and antibiosis due to its amazing catalytic activity, superior adsorption ability, and abundant iron reserves. In this work, we developed a novel method for the fluorescent detection of Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions based on the zero-valent iron nanoclusters that exhibited bright red fluorescence and excellent stability in aqueous solution. The Fe NCs were successfully used for the detection of Cu2+ ions based on the fluorescence quenching at 616 nm in the range of 0–10 μmol·L−1 with 0.037 μmol·L−1 of detection limit. In addition, Fe NCs were used for detection of Zn2+ ions based on the emerging fluorescence at 580 nm in the range of 0–20 μmol·L−1 with 0.016 μmol·L−1 of detection limit.