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Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Synthesis and Operation of Fluorescent-core Microcavities for Refractometric Sensing
Published on: March 13, 2013
Practical Three-Minute Synthesis of Acid-Coated Fluorescent Carbon Dots with Tuneable Core Structure
Stephen A Hill1, David Benito-Alifonso1, Sean A Davis1
1School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.
Abstract:
We report a one-pot, three-minute synthesis of carboxylic acid-decorated fluorescent carbon dots (COOH-FCDs) with tuneable core morphology dependent on the surface passivating agent. Mechanism investigations highlighted the presence of key pyrazine and polyhydroxyl aromatic motifs, which are formed from the degradation of glucosamine in the presence of a bifunctional linker bearing acid and amine groups. The novel COOH-FCDs are selective Fe3+ and hemin sensors. Furthermore, the FCDs are shown to be non-toxic, fluorescent bioimaging agents for cancer cells.
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