| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1230678 | Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy | 2013 | 5 Pages |
A simple and sensitive method for detecting cobalt by synchronous fluorescence spectrometry technique with a novel fluorescence probe CePO4:Tb3+ has been developed. CePO4:Tb3+ nanocrystals were synthesized in aqueous solutions and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction pattern spectroscopy and spectrofluorometry. When Δλ = 210 nm, the selected synchronous fluorescence is produced at 284 nm. CePO4:Tb3+ nanocrystals were negatively charged under weakly basic conditions (pH = 8.2), which can interact with Co2+ via electrostatic interaction. Moreover, there is the spectrum overlap between the emission wavelength of CePO4:Tb3+ NCs and the absorbance of Co2+. So the energy transfer would occur, leading to the quenching phenomenon. The quenching equation of the system was agreed with the Stern–Volmer equation. The linear range and detection limit of Co2+ were 5–1.8 μM and 3.5 nM, respectively. The method is successfully applied to the quantification of Co2+ in water samples.
Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► A new method was developed for determination of Co2+. ► CePO4:Tb3+ NCs were synthesized and used as fluorescent probes. ► The probable quenching mechanism is an energy transfer process which from CePO4:Tb3+ nanocrystals to Co2+.
