p-Aminothiophenol-coated CdSe/ZnS quantum dots as a turn-on fluorescent probe for pH detection in aqueous media

A quantum dots-based fluorescent probe obtained via ligand exchange by the use of commercially available p-aminothiophenol as capping ligand was developed for pH detection in aqueous media. The probe worked in photoluminescence “turn on” mode and exhibited a good selectivity to proton and a perfect linear relationship between optical response and pH values in pH range 3.2-6.0.173