An “off–on” sensor for fluoride using luminescent CdSe/ZnS quantum dots

Abstract

The fluorescence emission of CdSe/ZnS QDs was switched "off" when the native trioctylphosphine oxide ligands were exchanged for 1-(bis(eta(5)-cyclopentadienyl)iron)-methyl-3-(5,7-dimercapto-heptyl)-urea (); importantly, the emission of the resulting conjugate was switched "on" upon addition of fluoride ions.