Highly luminescent organosilane-functionalized carbon dots as a nanosensor for sensitive and selective detection of quercetin in aqueous solution

•Highly fluorescent quantum yield carbon dots were prepared.•Carbon dots fluorescence was selectively quenched by quercetin.•Carbon dots acted as sensitive and selective nanoprobes for quercetin determination in aqueous solution.•No interference from other flavonoids and phenolic compounds was observed.

The organosilane-functionalized carbon dots (SiCDs) were synthesized using citric acid with N-(b-aminoethyl)-g-aminopropyl methyldimethoxy silane (AEAPMS). The as-synthesized SiCDs were characterized by IR, TEM, XPS, NMR and fluorescence. The SiCDs showed a strong emission at 455 nm with excitation at 365 nm. The SiCDs exhibited analytical potential as sensing probes for quercetin (QCT) determination. pH effect, temperature effect, interferences, and analytical performance of the method were investigated. It suggested that SiCDs exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity toward QCT: the linear ranges of SiCDs were estimated to be 0–40 μM while the limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 79 nM.

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