Synthesis of Bi2Se3 quantum dots as a highly selective luminescence probe of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene

1-Chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) is a highly allergenic compound, it is widely used for the quantitative detection of glutathione-s-transferase. This chemical in environment can cause serious effects on human health. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultra violet detector has been used to detect CNDB, and the limit of the detection (LOD) is 200 ng/ml. It is significant to find a simple and quick method to detect CDNB. It is still a challenge to detect CDNB from nitroaromatic compounds with alike structure of CDNB using luminescent probe method. In this work, yellow-green Bi₂Se₃ quantum dots (QDs) were firstly synthesized by solvothermal method, and its absolute luminescence quantum yield reached 13.8 ± 0.2 %. Bi₂Se₃ QDs are environmentally friendly luminescent materials. The luminescence of the Bi₂Se₃ QDs solution was selectively quenched by CDNB molecules, CDNB could be selectively detected using Bi₂Se₃ QDs as luminescent probe. The linear range was 0.040 ∼ 0.50 μM, and the detection limit was 0.03 μM. Some nitroaromatic compounds including 4-fluoro-1,2-dinitrobenzene (4-F-1,2-DNB), 1,3-dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB), 2,6-dinitroaniline (2,6-DNA), p-chloronitrobenzene (p-CNB), 1-methyl-4-nitrobenzene (1-M−4−NB), 1-iodo-4-nitrobenzene (1-I-4-NB) and 1-(4-nitro-phenyl)-ethanone (4-NPE) did not interfere with the detection of CDNB. The detection of CDNB was interfered slightly only by 2,4-dinitroaniline (2,4-DNA) due to inner filter effect. The reason for the highly selective detection of CDNB using Bi₂Se₃ QDs was investigated detailed. The result provides a new sight for finding highly selective luminescent probe for organic chemicals based on the intermediate state formed between the surfaces of luminescent Bi₂Se₃ QDs and organic molecules through the characteristic second bond. Bi₂Se₃ QDs provide a new candidate for highly selective luminescent probe of CDNB with low limit of detection of 6.08 ng/ml.