Fluorescence quenching detection of p-nitrophenol in river water using functional perovskite quantum dots

Abstract

p-Nitrophenol (p-NP) is a chemical compound that produces pesticides and pharmaceuticals. Improper handling can lead to water pollution and pose risks to the environment. Considerable attention has been given to the research and development of methods for detecting water pollutants to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6. This study used highly fluorescent perovskite quantum dots (PVSK QDs) to detect p-NP in water. To enhance the stability of the PVSK QDs, we performed surface modification using 3-triethoxysilylpropylamine, resulting in functionalized amine-PVSK QDs. This enables the amine-PVSK QDs to maintain a high fluorescent quantum yield of 88.8% after 30 days of storage in ethanol. The detection of p-NP in water is achieved through the fluorescence quenching resulting from the reaction between the amino groups on the amine-PVSK QDs and p-NP. The detection limit for p-NP was 160 nM, lower than the US EPA permissible concentration limit for potable water. The amine-PVSK QDs detected p-NP in two river water samples with a relative standard deviation of 0.31–2.49% range. These findings demonstrate that amine-PVSK QDs can serve as a fast and sensitive fluorescent detection platform for the qualitative and quantitative identification of aqueous p-NP, addressing environmental sustainability issues.