Efficient Continuous Hydrothermal Flow Synthesis of Carbon Quantum Dots from a Targeted Biomass Precursor for On–Off Metal Ions Nanosensing

Glucose, a readily available biomass precursor is used for the production of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) via fast, efficient, and environmentally benign continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis (CHFS) process using supercritical water, an approach that can be scaled up industrialization, producing materials with enhanced properties. The water-soluble CQDs exhibit average particle size 2.3 ± 0.5 nm, optimum emission intensity at 446 nm on excitation 360 nm. as-synthesized no extra modification show promising sensitivity good selectivity highly toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic chromium(VI) ion (limit detection 1.83 ppm) essential bioactive transition metal, iron(II) 6.09 ppm). life-cycle assessment confirms in comparison to conventional batch synthetic method, significantly more efficient greener route from glucose precursor.