Functionalized CdTe fluorescence nanosensor for the sensitive detection of water borne environmentally hazardous metal ions

Abstract

In this work, we have investigated the possibility of using COOH functionalized CdTe quantum dots (QDs) as fluorescent nanosensor for the detection of some environmentally hazardous metal ions ($\rm{Cr^{3+}}$, $\rm{Pb^{2+}}$, $\rm{Cu^{2+}}$, $\rm{Zn^{2+}}$ and $\rm{Co^{2+}}$) in aqueous phase. COOH-CdTe QDs are prepared in aqueous medium and characterized by UV-visible, photo luminescence and FTIR spectrometry. Optical response of CdTe nanosensor is observed to be time and temperature dependent. A strong "Turn-Off" fluorescence response of CdTe is observed in presence of all metals ions ($\rm{X^{n+}}$). The output of Stern volmer relation, graphical Job's plot and FTIR data established the existence of strong 1:1 complexation ($\rm{X^{n+}: ^{-}OOC-CdTe)}$ between CdTe and metal ions. CdTe shows its efficient sensing ability for $\rm{Pb^{2+}}$, $\rm{Cr^{3+}}$ and $\rm{Cu^{2+}}$ ions up to concentration $\rm{10^{-14}}$ M which was established by its low detection of limit (LOD)validation. Further, strong appearance of $\frac{F-F_{0}}{F_{0}}$ establishes the better sensing capability of CdTe QDs for $\rm{Cr^{3+}}$, $\rm{Pb^{2+}}$, $\rm{Cu^{2+}}$ ions which are far better than the existing fluorescent sensors available in industry. The proposed optical techniques and principal component analysis of sensing were successfully applied for testing of dissolved metal ions in real samples like: paint, river water, rain water etc which validates the applicability of COOH functionalized CdTe nanosensor as a effective successful optical sensor for water dissolved metal ions which are responsible for water pollution.