Highly selective and sensitive sensing for Al3+ and F− based on green photoluminescent carbon dots

Abstract

Ascorbic acid and glycol were employed as the carbon resource and co-solvent, respectively, to prepare extraordinary green photoluminescent carbon dots (CDs) by means of a hydrothermal method. Furthermore, the resulting CDs could be successfully employed to establish highly sensitive and selective sensing systems for Al³⁺ ions with a photoluminescence (PL) enhancement response and for F⁻ anions with a PL “ON–OFF” model.