Synthesis and application of optically stable red fluorescent carbon dots for sensitive and selective detection of ceftazidime

[Display omitted] •Successful synthesis of optically stable red-emitting carbon dots (R-CDs) using a solvothermal method.•R-CDs exhibit an emission wavelength of 600 nm and a quantum yield of 26.7%.•R-CDs demonstrate excellent salt resistance, photostability, and sensitivity to ceftazidime (CF).•A fluorescent probe based on R-CDs was developed for the detection of CF in real samples. This study reports the successful synthesis of optically stable red-emitting carbon dots (R-CDs) through a solvothermal method, using glycine as the carbon source and o-phenylenediamine as the nitrogen-doping agent. The R-CDs exhibit long-wavelength emission characteristics with optimal excitation and emission wavelengths of 533 nm and 600 nm, respectively, and a quantum yield of 26.7 %. The results demonstrate that R-CDs possess excellent salt resistance and photostability. The R-CDs display bright fluorescence emission and show a sensitive response to ceftazidime (CF). Leveraging these properties, a fluorescent probe based on R-CDs was developed for the sensitive determination of CF. The fluorescence quenching intensity of this system exhibits a good linear relationship with CF concentration in the range of 0–0.7 mmol/L. The linear equation is (F0-F)/F0=0.9564CCF(mmol/L)+0.0089, with a linear correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.9945. The detection limit is 4.9 μmol/L, with recovery rates ranging from 94.2 % to 100.5 % and relative standard deviations between 2.2 % and 3.2 %. This work provides a theoretical basis for the detection of CF using red-emitting carbon dots and demonstrates promising potential for practical applications.