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Sains Malaysiana 55(3)(2026): 385-398

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5503-03

 

Development of Nitrogen and Phosphorous co-Doped Carbon Dots (N,P-CDs) as Fluorescent Sensor for Cu²⁺ Ions in Aquatic Environments

(Pembangunan Titik Karbon Terdop Nitrogen dan Fosforus (N,P-CDs) sebagai Sensor Pendarfluor untuk Ion Cu²⁺ dalam Persekitaran Akuatik)

 

KURNIAWATI AULIYAH OBBYARDI, DYAH SARSIWI HAMURWANI, ADHITASARI SURATMAN & SUHERMAN SUHERMAN*

 

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, Sleman 55218, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

 

Received: 16 July 2025/Accepted: 13 February 2026

 

Abstract

A fluorescent sensor has been developed by synthesizing N,P co-doped carbon dots (N,P-CDs) through a microwave-assisted process for an early detection of Cu²⁺ in the environment. In this work, the optimization of irradiation power, irradiation time and dopant ratio of ethylenediamine and phosphoric acid as sources of N and P dopants, were studied. Further research on stability, sensitivity, selectivity, and interference to other metal ions were evaluated. FTIR analysis confirmed the success of N and P doping on the surface of CDs with the presence of characteristic bond vibrations such as N-H, C-N, and P-O. UV-Vis spectroscopy indicated the formation of carbon cores, while XRD results showed an amorphous structure. Characterization by TEM exhibited that N,P-CDs had an average size of 1.7 nm with some agglomerated parts. The N,P-CDs fluorescence sensor has a wide detection linearity range (0-0.4 ppm) with LOD and LOQ values of 0.0177 and 0.0592 ppm, respectively. Moreover, N,P-CDs effectively detected Cu²⁺ in real water samples with percentage RSD values below 5%.

Keywords: Carbon dots; copper; fluorescent sensor; microwave; nitrogen and phosphorous

 

Abstrak

Sensor pendarfluor telah dikembangkan dengan mensintesis karbon dot terdop N dan P (N,P-CDs) dengan menggunakan kaedah mikrogelombang untuk mengesan ion Cu²⁺ pada persekitaran. Dalam kajian ini, pengoptimuman daya penyinaran, waktu penyinaran serta nisbah dopan etilendiamin dan asid fosfat sebagai sumber dopan N dan P. Selain itu, kestabilan, sensitiviti, selektiviti serta pengaruh interferen daripada ion logam lain juga dinilai. Analisis FTIR hasil pendopanN dan P pada permukaan CDs dengan adanya pencirian getaran ikatan seperti N-H, C-N dan P-O. Spektroskopi UV-Vis menunjukkan pembentukan atom karbon dan hasil XRD memperlihatkan struktur amorfus. Pencirian TEM menunjukkan bahawa N,P-CDs memiliki ukuran 1.7 nm dengan beberapa bahagian mengalami aglomerasi. Sensor pendarfluor N,P-CDs memiliki kerentangan pengesanan linear yang luas (0-0.4 ppm) dengan nilai LOD dan LOQ yang diperoleh masing-masing adalah 0.0177 dan 0.0592 ppm. Selain itu, N,P-CDs secara berkesan mengesan Cu²⁺ dalam sampel air dengan nilai peratusan RSD yang kurang daripada 5%.

Kata kunci: Karbon dot; kuprum; mikro gelombang; nitrogen dan fosforus; sensor pendarfluor

 

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*Corresponding author; email: suherman.mipa@ugm.ac.id