Ultrasensitive visualization detection of sodium borohydride based on surface treated transparent molybdenum oxide quantum dots

Abstract

Sodium borohydride has attracted increasing attention as an energy source for direct borohydride fuel cells. But, to-date, the detection of borohydride concentration is still difficult in the research based on borohydride systems, especially the convenient visualization detection technology has not yet made a breakthrough. Herein, a transparent molybdenum oxide quantum dots (MoO3 QDs) was successfully prepared using a mild hydrothermal method. The as-prepared molybdenum oxide quantum dots achieved an ultrasensitive visualization response to sodium borohydride. Benefiting from the uniform size of molybdenum oxide quantum dots and less than 10 nm, the quantum dots dispersed in aqueous solution exhibit high transparency. When sodium borohydride appeared in the system, the solution quickly turned transparent blue. We anticipate that this work will provide a facile and cost-effective strategy based on the design of new materials for the visualization detection of compound concentration.