A facile fluorescent sensor based on nitrogen-doped carbon dots derived from for highly selective and visual detection of iodide and pH.

Sensitive and visual analysis of iodide (I) and pH is significant in environmental and food applications. Herein, we present a facile fluorescent sensor for highly selective and visual detection of I and pH based on nitrogen-doped carbon dots derived from (NCDs-LM). The NCDs-LM-based fluorescent sensor showed a good linear relationship to I concentrations, and the detection limit was calculated as 20 nmol L. The developed sensor was successfully applied to the detection of I in drinking water and milk samples. Meanwhile, the as-synthesized NCDs-LM sensor can be used to detect pH, achieving a wide linear pH range. Furthermore, fluorescent test papers based on NCDs-LM were designed for semi-quantitative detection of I and pH the naked-eye colorimetric assay. The present work indicates that the NCDs-LM-based fluorescent sensor has high potential for use in environmental monitoring and food analysis.