Facile and efficient 3-chlorophenol sensor development based on photolumenescent core-shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dots.

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Electrochemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanoparticles with unique optical and electronic properties.
• Developing sensitive and selective sensors is crucial for environmental contaminant detection.
• 3-chlorophenol (3-CP) is a common environmental pollutant requiring effective monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots.
• To develop an electrochemical sensor for 3-CP detection using CdSe/ZnS QDs.
• To evaluate the sensor's analytical performance and applicability.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots.
• Modification of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with CdSe/ZnS QDs.
• Electrochemical detection of 3-CP using the modified GCE.

Main Results:

• The CdSe/ZnS/GCE sensor exhibited high sensitivity (3.6392 µA µM⁻¹ cm⁻²) and a low detection limit (26.09 ± 1.30 pM).
• A linear dynamic range (LDR) was established with a regression coefficient (r²) of 0.9906.
• The sensor demonstrated good reproducibility and was successfully validated for detecting 3-CP in real samples.

Conclusions:

• CdSe/ZnS QDs can be effectively used to create a sensitive electrochemical sensor for 3-CP.
• This QD-modified sensor offers a promising route for detecting phenolic contaminants in environmental samples.
• The developed sensor contributes to environmental safety and healthcare through broad-scale monitoring.