A simple green synthesis of carbon quantum dots from Prunus Armeniaca and their application as fluorescent probes for the selective and sensitive detection of Cd²⁺ metal ion

Abstract This study used a hydrothermal approach to synthesis carbon dots (CDs) from apricot peel, which were then used as a probe for the selective and sensitive detection of Cd 2+ ions. The synthesized CDs’ surface groupings, structure, shape, biological nature, and overall size were examined using standard characterization techniques. With a quantum yield of 22.1%, these CDs showed excitation-dependent fluorescence emission. In addition, Cd 2+ ions were distinguished from other metal ions by a noticeable drop in fluorescence intensity. The fluorescence probe showed a linear response ranging from 0–300 μM and a detection threshold (DT) of 0.21 μM, indicating its effectiveness for Cd 2+ detection. Furthermore, the CDs demonstrated the practical application by detecting Cd 2+ ion in actual water samples.