Photoactivated luminescent CdSe quantum dots as sensitive cyanide probes in aqueous solutions

Abstract

Water-soluble luminescent CdSe quantum dots surface-modified with 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate were synthesized for the selective determination of free cyanide in aqueous solution with high sensitivity (detection limit of 1.1 x 10(-6) M), via analyte-induced changes in their photoluminescence after photoactivation.