Abstract
Herein, a facile method for the synthesis of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and silver nanoparticle carbon quantum dots (AgNPs-CQDs) nanocomposites from syzygium cumini leaves by pyrolysis treatment for the sensing of Hg2+ ions is reported. The synthesized CQDs were characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy (217 nm), FTIR, XRD and (HR) TEM. The CQDs measured 4 ± 1 nm (diameter) with 0.32 nm interplanar spacing. The CQDs solution showed bright green photoluminescence upon exposure to UV-light. AgNPs-CQDs exhibited Hg2+ selective colorimetric sensing properties (423 nm) over a wide pH range (4-10). Thus, use of CQDs, especially those generated from waste biomass with in-situ reducing and stabilizing agent, avoids the use expensive and toxic cadium sulfide, cadium selenide and zinc sulfide. The work encapsulates the use of a waste as renewable feedstock (green chemistry principles 1 and 7), avoids the use of toxic reagents and auxiliaries (green chemistry principles 3 and 8), and links to SDG 6 – water and sanitation.
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