Fluorescent carbon nanodots as efficient nitro aromatic sensor-analysis based on computational perspectives

Herein, cyan emitting carbon dots are synthesised by adopting a facile, green and economic route using table sugar as the precursor. The system is adequately characterized by TEM, XRD, XPS, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, Zeta potential analysis, UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy and Fluorescence spectroscopy. Excitation dependent emission is exhibited by these particles. The luminescence exhibited by these dots is found to be highly sensitive towards a collection of aromatic nitro compounds which enabled their sensing with admirable efficacy. Limits of detection towards the nitro aromatic systems are found to be in the range of 270-1720 Femto molar (fM), which is highly commendable while considering the benchmark values prescribed for the nitro aromatics in aqueous systems, by the concerned authorities. The proposed carbon dot unit performed well even under complex chemical environments, as illustrated by the negligible interference of common metal salts and bio-molecules in the sensing action. Besides, the observed sensing trend isscientifically corroborated with the aid of widely accepted computational analytical tools. Global reactive descriptors and Donor Acceptor Map (DAM) methods. Interpretation of sensing phenomena in a computational perspective is a novel attempt in the area of fluorimetric sensing, since works in the concerned area seldom seeks the assistance of a scientific MAP or parameter for explaining the sensing action. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.