Implementing N-Doped Carbon Quantum Dot Fluorescence Spectrometry as a Modern Alternative to 1,10-Phenanthroline Spectrophotometry for Iron Determination in Undergraduate Chemistry Laboratory Experiments

Carbon quantum dots have been progressively incorporated into secondary and tertiary curricula in various forms and have been established as a prominent nanomaterial through which students can explore advanced scientific concepts. In this study, students synthesized nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots using 4-aminosalicylic acid and glycine. Data analysis was conducted using an ultraviolet spectrophotometer and a fluorescence spectrometer facilitated by computer processing. This experiment was successfully conducted in two undergraduate classes at the Taiyuan University of Technology and yielded excellent outcomes. The results demonstrated that, compared with the traditional 1,10-phenanthroline spectrophotometric method, this method facilitates a safer and more convenient measurement of iron ions, thus enhancing students’ spectral analysis skills. Furthermore, this improved experiment serves as a gateway for students into the microscopic world, fostering an understanding of nanomaterials and related concepts such as detection limits and quantum yield.