N-doped carbon dots covalently functionalized with pillar[5]arenes for Fe³⁺ sensing

Abstract

Fluorescent N-doped carbon dots (CN-dots) covalently functionalized with carboxylatopillar[5]arene (CP[5]), namely CCDs, have been prepared the first time. Compared with CN-dots without pillarene units, the newly constructed fluorescent CCDs could recognize Fe 3+ with high selectivity. Therefore, such CCDs can potentially serve as a promising chemical sensor for Fe 3+ ions.