Lanthanide doped carbon dots as a fluorescence chromaticity-based pH probe

A colorimetric and fluorescent pH probe was designed by doping carbon dots (C-dots) with Eu(III), Tb(III) and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (DPA). The resulting nanoparticles were applied as fluorescent indicators for pH values (best detected at excitation/emission wavelengths of 272/545, 614 nm). The pH induced optical effects are due to pH induced variations in energy transfer. The fluorescence of the probe shows a continuous color variation, and a linear change with pH values in the range from 3.0 to 10.0 can be established by using a Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity diagram. This new kind of pH nanoprobe is more accurate than previously reported pH indicator probes because the pH value can be calculated by using chromaticity coordinates that only depend on the chromaticity. The pH nanoprobe was applied to visualize pH values in human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7). Graphical abstract Carbon dots modified with Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes of 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (DPA) were prepared. The doped carbon dots were used as a pH-sensitive nanosensor. The fluorescence chromaticity of the nanoparticles changes with the variation of pH value.