Carbon
nanoclusters (CNCs) is a kind of carbon-based luminescent
nanomaterial between macromolecular substances and carbon quantum
dots, which is a valuable potential probe for fluorescence sensing
and biological imaging. Herein, a mild and fast contact route was
established for synthesis of CNCs with strong green fluorescence at
516 nm. The method involves direct mixing of polyethyleneimine (PEI)
solution with ascorbic acid (AA) at room temperature without any energy
and time consumption. The CNCs were formed once PEI and AA solutions
came into contact, which could be used to detect the presence of AA.
The fluorescence intensity of the as-prepared CNCs was also quantitatively
enhanced with the increase of AA. Therefore, a fluorescence “turn-on”
method was developed for the sensitive detection of AA based on the
formation of the CNCs in a linear range from 0.5 to 100 μM with
a low limit of detection of 0.15 μM. This method was also successfully
employed to detect AA in real samples of human plasma and cherry tomato
with recoveries ranging from 97 to 105%. Due to the excellent fluorescence
property and low toxicity of the as-prepared CNCs, they were also
applied as a bright fluorescent ink for fluorescent printing.
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