Zr(H2O)2EDTA modulated luminescent carbon dots as fluorescent probes for fluoride detection

A novel fluorescent probe (Zr(CDs-COO)(2)EDTA) has been designed for fluoride ion (F(-)) content detection based on the competitive ligand reactions carried out between the carboxylate groups (-COOH) on the surface of the luminescent carbon dots (CDs) and F(-) coordinated to Zr(H(2)O)(2)EDTA. The strong and stable fluorescence signal of this probe was quenched upon the addition of F(-) as a result of the formation of the non-fluorescent complex Zr(F)(2)EDTA, due to the stronger affinity of F(-) than the -COOH in the CDs to Zr(IV). The fluorescence change (ΔF) in this process was linear with respect to the content of F(-), ranging from 0.10 μM to 10 μM. The probe has been applied to F(-) detection in toothpaste and water samples with satisfactory results. Moreover, the mechanism of this Zr(H(2)O)(2)EDTA modulated fluorescent probe for the detection of F(-) was also discussed.