Synthesis and Photophysical Behavior of Pyrene-Bearing Cellulose Nanocrystals for Fe3+ Sensing

Cellulose nanocrystals are converted into fluorescent labeling nanoparticles (Py‐CNC) by a three‐step procedure. The fluorescence emission of pyrene is enhanced after the modification to cellulose nanocrystals. Py‐CNC is evaluated for its sensing ability towards metal ions and exhibits high selectivity towards Fe3+ among other screened metal ions with good discrimination between Fe2+ and Fe3+. The excellent selectivity for Fe3+ over a wide linear concentration range is observed through changes in the emission spectra. Spectroscopic analyses prove that the coordination interaction between Fe3+ and pyrene‐modified cellulose nanocrystals leads to the recognition process. This sensing nanomaterial can be employed as a chemosensor for Fe3+ and promoted for many applications in chemical, environmental, and biological systems. A novel fluorescent chemosensor based on pyrene fluorophore is synthesized onto cellulose nanocrystals by a three‐step procedure. The fluorescence emission of pyrene was enhanced after the modification to cellulose nanocrystals and shows excellent selectivity for Fe3+. The coordination interaction between Fe3+ and pyene‐modified cellulose nanocrystals led to the recognition process. This sensing nanomaterial could be employed as a chemosensor for Fe3+.