Microwave assisted one-step green synthesis of fluorescent carbon nanoparticles from ionic liquids and their application as novel fluorescence probe for quercetin determination

► Fluorescent CNPs were synthesized with microwave pyrolysis approach. ► Ionic liquids were used as sources of carbon and nitrogen for the first time. ► The formation and functionalization of CNPs were accomplished simultaneously. ► CNPs were used as fluorescent probes for the determination of quercetin. ► A sensitive and convenient method based on the fluorescence quenching was developed.