Ultrasensitive optical detection of anions by quantum dots

Quantum dots (QDs) have received great interest for diverse applications over the past few decades due to their unique photophysical properties like their tunable band gap, facile solution processability and versatile surface functionalization with different ligands. Quantum dot based optical analysis techniques with high sensitivity and selectivity have been developed to detect anions in aqueous solution for environmental monitoring, medicinal diagnostics, and the analysis of biological samples and industrial processes. Here we review the latest research progress of semiconductor QDs for sensing of anions in aqueous solution or in vivo, and discuss the photophysical mechanisms and outlook for the potential development in QD based optical sensing for anions.