Heteroatom-doped MXene quantum dots: red emission tuning and dual-functional performance
Fanyong Yan1, Ruixue Bai1, Yating Li1
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Separation Membrane Materials, Tiangong University, Tianjin, 300387, PR China; Interdisciplinary Research Center for Advanced Textile Composites, Tiangong University, Tianjin, 300387, PR China.
Analytica Chimica Acta
|March 28, 2026
Summary
Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped MXene quantum dots (N,S-MQDs) exhibit red emission for sensitive crystal violet detection and efficient photocatalysis. This dual functionality in N,S-MQDs advances environmental monitoring and solar remediation applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Photochemistry
Background:
- MXene-derived quantum dots (MQDs) show promise in optical sensing and photocatalysis due to tunable photoluminescence and active sites.
- Challenges include modulating emission wavelength and enhancing light-harvesting for visible-light applications.
- Heteroatom doping is a key strategy for engineering MQD electronic structure and emission properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a systematic strategy for MXene quantum dots (MQDs) with long-wavelength emission, high quantum efficiency, and multifunctional performance.
- To investigate the effects of nitrogen and sulfur co-doping on MQD properties and performance.
- To explore the application of co-doped MQDs in sensitive fluorescence sensing and visible-light photocatalysis.
Main Methods:
- Facile hydrothermal synthesis of nitrogen and sulfur co-doped MXene quantum dots (N,S-MQDs).
- Characterization of photoluminescence properties, including wavelength shift and quantum yield.
- Evaluation of N,S-MQDs as fluorescent probes for crystal violet (CV) detection.
- Assessment of N,S-MQDs for visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of CV.
Main Results:
- Co-doping induced a red shift in photoluminescence and increased quantum yield from 5.26% to 13.12%.
- Enlarged particle size after doping contributed to red-shifting via quantum confinement effect relaxation.
- N,S-MQDs achieved ultrasensitive detection of crystal violet (CV) with a 0.01 nM limit of detection.
- N,S-MQDs demonstrated excellent visible-light photocatalytic activity, degrading CV with up to 98% efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Heteroatom co-doping is an effective strategy for tuning emission wavelength, quantum efficiency, and redox activity in MQDs.
- The developed N,S-MQDs platform integrates ultrasensitive fluorescence sensing and efficient photocatalysis for environmental applications.
- This work provides a rational design for multifunctional nanomaterials in environmental monitoring and solar-driven remediation.
