Fluorescent N-Doped Carbon Dots as a Biocompatible Sensor for Thiophanate-Methyl Detection

An eco-friendly nitrogen-passivated carbon dot (N-CDs)-based fluorescent sensor was designed for the selective and sensitive detection of thiophanate-methyl, a widely applied fungicide in agriculture. The synthesized N-CDs exhibited robust fluorescence and remarkable photostability, which contributed to the sensor's performance. Notably, the sensor achieved a detection limit as low as 4.8 nM and operated effectively over a wide linear dynamic range of 10 to 150 µM, showcasing its potential for precise thiophanate-methyl detection. Optimization of the experimental parameters, including pH and concentration of N-CDs, resulted in a very efficient sensing platform with rapid response time and good selectivity towards common interferents such as other pesticides and metal ions. Moreover, the sensor was successfully deployed for real agricultural samples enabling a high recovery for accurate detection of thiophanate-methyl residues. The N-CDs-based sensors may serve as sustainable cost-effective methods for monitoring pesticide contamination in foodstuffs or environmental matrices. The sensor stands out as be practical benefit, eco-friendly tool for food safety assurance and environmental protection.