Sustainable deep eutectic solvent-engineered clove-derived carbon dots as a single sensing platform for the detection
Mandeep Kaur1, Mallika Phull1, Urvashi Singh1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology Patiala 147004 India Banibrata.maity@thapar.edu mkaur3_phd19@thapar.edu phullmallika96@gmail.com uurvashi_phd24@thapar.edu dikshabhatia156@gmail.com.
RSC Advances
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed eco-friendly fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) from clove using a deep eutectic solvent. These sustainable CDs offer sensitive detection of antioxidants like quercetin and riboflavin for bioanalytical applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Green Chemistry
Background:
- Oxidative stress necessitates robust antioxidant detection platforms.
- Sustainable and environmentally friendly methods are crucial for nanomaterial synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a green synthesis method for fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) from clove biomass.
- To characterize the synthesized CDs and evaluate their potential as fluorescent probes for antioxidant sensing.
Main Methods:
- Hydrothermal synthesis of carbon dots (CDs) from clove using a deep eutectic solvent (choline chloride and urea).
- Characterization using HR-TEM, FT-IR, and XPS.
- Evaluation of fluorescence properties, stability, and sensing capabilities for quercetin (QT) and riboflavin (RF).
Main Results:
- Uniform CDs with an average size of ~2.1 nm and a fluorescence quantum yield of 22.5% were produced.
- The CDs exhibited excitation-dependent fluorescence, excellent photostability, and stability across various pH, ionic strength, and irradiation conditions.
- Highly sensitive and selective detection of quercetin (QT) and riboflavin (RF) with low detection limits (0.25 µM and 0.14 µM) was achieved.
Conclusions:
- A sustainable and eco-friendly method for producing fluorescent carbon dots from biomass was demonstrated.
- The synthesized CDs are effective fluorescent nanoprobes for antioxidant sensing, showing potential for bioanalytical and environmental monitoring.
- Deep eutectic solvent engineering combined with biomass precursors offers a viable route for creating functional nanomaterials.
