Magnesium and nitrogen co-doped carbon dots as fluorescent probes for quenchometric determination of paraoxon using pralidoxime as a linker

Carbon dots codoped with magnesium and nitrogen (Mg,N-CDs) were synthesized via a one-step microwave-assisted method. They display blue fluorescence (with excitation/emission peaks at 380/460 nm and a 33% quantum yield) and possess high dispersity in aqueous solution. The fluorescence of the Mg,N-CDs is highly sensitive to paraoxon in the presence of pralidoxime (PAM) acting as the linking agent. Electron transfer from Mg,N-CDs to paraoxon in the presence of PAM leads to the fluorescence quenching of Mg,N-CDs. The concentration of paraoxon is determined by measuring the quenching efficiency of the Mg,N-CD-PAM assay system. Fluorescence drops with increasing concentrations of paraoxon in the 0.005–3.0 μM range, and the limit of detection is 0.87 nM. The method is highly selective for paraoxon even in the presence of possible interferences. Real sample study of tap and river water showed the assay to have good repeatability and accuracy.