Carbon Nanodots with Solvatochromic Photoluminescence for the Electrochemical Determination of Estrogenic Steroids

Herein, we utilized carbon nanodots (R-CNDs) for the electrochemical detection of estrogens in tap and natural water samples simulated effluents from Swedish waste treatment plants (WWTPs). R-CNDs were prepared 2-aminophenol by solvothermal synthesis used as a modifier chitosan-based selective membranes. The data obtained atomic force microscopy transmission electron suggest spherical morphology with lateral size range 3–8 nm height 1–8 nm. In contrast to most other known nanodots, are soluble various organic solvents, including apolar, less water. Small (3 nm) more hydrophilic than large ones (6–8 can be separated bulk suspension heptane their extraction into water/ethanol mixture. Suspensions apolar solvents exhibit green photoluminescence, while small polar have orange. This phenomenon was attributed solvatochromic rather quantum effect. embedded on chitosan-modified pencil electrode applied voltammetric determination four abandoned estrogens: estrone, estradiol, estriol, ethynyl estradiol. sensor demonstrates group-selective response limit 17.0 nmol L–1. It determine 0.05–4.6 μmol L–1 presence typical interfering bioactive compounds, such paracetamol, uric acid, progesterone, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, ibuprofen, caffeine. developed sensors show repeatability reproducibility values 1.8–3.4% 4.3%, respectively. efficiency proved application lake samples, where recovery found 93–100%. low cost, stability, high sensitivity selectivity fabricated make perspective estrogen microquantities variable samples.