Abstract
Recently, several nonconventional sources have emerged as strong hotspots for the biosynthesis of chalcogenide quantum dots. However, studies that have ascertained the biomimetic methodologies that initiate biosynthesis are rather limited. The present investigation portrays a few perspectives of rare-earth(Gd)-doped ZnS biosynthesis using the endophytic fungi Aspergillus flavus for sensing metals based on their fluorescence. Analysis of ZnS:Gd nanoparticles was performed by elemental analysis, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), photoluminescence (PL), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results of TEM demonstrated that the particles were polycrystalline in nature, with a mean size of 10–18 nm. The fluorescence amenability of the biogenic ZnS nanoparticles was further used for the development of a simple and efficient sensing array. The results showed sensitive and detectable quenching/enhancement in the fluorescence of biogenic colloidal ZnS nanoparticles, in the presence of Pb (II), Cd (II), Hg (II), Cu (II) and Ni (II), respectively. The fluorescence intensity of the biogenic ZnS:Gd nanoparticles was found to increase compared to that of the ZnS nanoparticles that capacitate these systems as a reliable fluorescence sensing platform with selective environmental applications.
Highlights
Zinc sulphide (ZnS) is used in optical sensitizers, optical sensors, ultraviolet (UV) light sensors, chemical sensors, biosensors, nanogenerators, electroluminescent materials, field emitters, and field effect transistors [1,2]
The present study focuses on the biosynthesis of Gd-doped ZnS and the fluorescence detection of metals
Comparison of ZnS and ZnS:Gd Nanoparticles Based on energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Elemental Analysis, and atomic force microscopy (AFM)
Summary
Zinc sulphide (ZnS) is used in optical sensitizers, optical sensors, ultraviolet (UV) light sensors, chemical sensors, biosensors, nanogenerators, electroluminescent materials, field emitters, and field effect transistors [1,2]. The nanoparticle yield is higher in fungi compared to plants and bacteria, as they secrete large amounts of proteins, which directly influence productivity They exhibit monodispersity with well-defined dimensions using minimal media requirements. Synthesized nanoparticles are highly unstable and tend to agglomerate in the absence of suitable trapping media, whereas biological synthesis provides discrete nanoparticles through surface modification with protein capping [6] This imparts long-term stability and improves their optical and electronic properties [7]. Chalcogen-based semiconductor nanoparticles, generally called quantum dots, are known as predominant components for fluorescence-based materials and bioimaging due to their optical properties that account for their size tunable quantum confinement effects Their manufacture and use at the nanoscale has gained interest from the industrial and academic community [14,15]. A simple, sensitive, and inexpensive method was developed to detect and remove heavy metals using ZnS:Gd nanoparticles
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