Fluorescence Quenching of Graphene Quantum Dots from Orange Peel for Methyl Orange Detection

Methyl orange (MO) is an organic synthetic dye widely used in laboratory and industrial applications. In laboratory settings, it serves as an acid-base indicator due to its distinct color change in both acidic and alkaline environments. Industrially, it is primarily utilized in the textile industry for its ultraviolet (UV) absorption properties. However, the discharge and leakage of methyl orange into the environment can cause severe ecological damage and pose potential carcinogenic and teratogenic risks to human health. Therefore, detecting and quantifying the concentration of methyl orange in various matrices is crucial. This study reports the synthesis of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) from orange peel as a precursor, using ethanol and dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvents. Cyan (c-GQDs) and yellow (y-GQDs) graphene quantum dots were synthesized through a bottom-up hydrothermal method. The difference in color is attributed to the redshift caused by the varying ratio of pyridine nitrogen to pyrrole nitrogen. These GQDs exhibited notable optical properties, with c-GQDs emitting cyan fluorescence and y-GQDs emitting yellow fluorescence under UV light. To investigate fluorescence quenching effects, nine commonly used dyes were tested, and all were found to quench the fluorescence of y-GQDs, with methyl orange having the most significant effect. The fluorescence quenching of orange peel-derived GQDs in the presence of methyl orange is attributed to poor dispersion in DMF solution. Additionally, the GQDs possess high specific surface area, abundant surface functional groups, and excellent electronic conductivity, which contribute to their effective fluorescence quenching performance. The average thickness of y-GQDs (the vertical dimension from the substrate upwards) was 3.51 nm, confirming their graphene-like structure. They emitted yellow fluorescence within the wavelength range of 450-530 nm. Notably, a significant linear correlation was found between the concentration of methyl orange and the fluorescence intensity of y-GQDs (regression coefficient = 0.9954), indicating the potential of GQDs as effective sensing materials for organic pollutant detection.