Highly selective detection of Fe3+ ions based on 4H-SiC quantum dots in aqueous solution

Abstract

ABSTRACTWe successfully prepared 4H-SiC quantum dots (QDs) through electrochemical etching assisted by ultrasonic oscillation method. The ultrathin 4H-SiC QDs with particle size of ∼2.7 nm have well crystalline and excellent photoluminescence (PL) performance. The pH value of 4H-SiC QDs aqueous solution is choose to be 3.5. Moreover, the PL intensity of 4H-SiC QDs decreases with the increasing concentration of Fe3+ ions, and the liner relationship between the PL intensity of 4H-SiC QDs and the concentration of Fe3+ ions endows 4H-SiC QDs the ability to be used as detection probe of Fe3+ ions.