Sustainable Preparation of Graphene Quantum Dots for Metal Ion Sensing Application

HIGHLIGHTS: What are the main finding? Preparation of GQDs from ethanolic extract of eucalyptus tree leaves. Hydrothermal treatment of extract at different temperatures and times was carried out. What is the implication of the main finding? The GQDs were formed in the size range of 2–5 nm, as validated by TEM images. Developed GQDs were successfully used for metal ion sensing. ABSTRACT: Over the past several years, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have been extensively studied in water treatment and sensing applications because of their exceptional structure-related properties, intrinsic inert carbon property, eco-friendly nature, etc. This work reported on the preparation of GQDs from the ethanolic extracts of eucalyptus tree leaves by a hydrothermal treatment technique. Different heat treatment times and temperatures were used during the hydrothermal treatment technique. The optical, morphological, and compositional analyses of the green-synthesized GQDs were carried out. It can be noted that the product yield of GQDs showed the maximum yield at a reaction temperature of 300 °C. Further, it was noted that at a treatment period of 480 min, the greatest product yield of about 44.34% was attained. The quantum yields of prepared GQDs obtained after 480 min of treatment at 300 °C (named as GQD/300) were noted to be 0.069. Moreover, the D/G ratio of GQD/300 was noted to be 0.532 and this suggested that the GQD/300 developed has a nano-crystalline graphite structure. The TEM images demonstrated the development of GQD/300 with sizes between 2.0 to 5.0 nm. Furthermore, it was noted that the GQD/300 can detect Fe(3+) in a very selective manner, and hence the developed GQD/300 was successfully used for the metal ion sensing application.