Green synthesized carbon nanodots as a fluorescent probe for selective and sensitive detection of iron(III) ions

•Banana-sourced fluorescent carbon nanodots have been prepared.•The process of preparation is entirely ‘green’.•The fluorescent carbon nanodots exhibit selective and sensitive detection of Fe3+.

A green approach has been employed for the synthesis of fluorescent carbon nanodots (C-dots) with the use of yellow banana peels as carbon source. The preparation process is entirely chemical-free, environmentally friendly, convenient and rapid. The as-synthesized C-dots were demonstrated as an effective fluorescent probe for label-free, selective and sensitive detection of Fe3+ with a detection limit as low as 211 nM.

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