Fluorescent Probes for Chlorine Detection in Water Systems
Summary
Fluorescent probes for chlorine detection offer a sensitive, selective and rapid means to monitor reactive chlorine species—principally hypochlorite (ClO−)—in drinking water, wastewater and natural environments. These probes typically comprise molecular fluorophores or nanomaterials that emit light upon interaction with ClO−, enabling quantitative analysis down to nanomolar concentrations. Advances in probe design have focused on eco-friendly synthesis, enhanced water dispersibility, biocompatibility and resistance to interference from other ions or organic matter. Carbon-based nanodots, quantum dots and dye-derived sensors dominate the field, often incorporating functional groups that undergo oxidation or specific binding to ClO−, triggering fluorescence quenching or turn-on responses. Ratiometric probes, which measure the ratio of two emission bands, have emerged to improve accuracy in complex matrices by cancelling out variations in probe concentration or excitation intensity. Recent work also highlights in situ and cellular imaging of endogenous hypochlorite, linking environmental monitoring with biological studies of oxidative stress. As water safety regulations tighten worldwide, these fluorescent probes are poised to become indispensable tools for real-time and on-site chlorine analysis in both industrial and field settings.
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Fluorescent Probes for Chlorine Detection in Water Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in fluorescent probes for chlorine detection in water systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Fluorescent probe: A molecule or nanomaterial that emits light upon interaction with a target analyte.
Hypochlorite (ClO−): The reactive chlorine species commonly used in disinfection and subject to detection in water.
Carbon dots: Nanoscale, carbon-based fluorescent particles often synthesised by hydrothermal or solvothermal methods.
Quantum yield: The efficiency with which absorbed light is converted into emitted fluorescence.
Ratiometric fluorescence: A sensing approach using two emission wavelengths to improve measurement accuracy.
References
- A Ratiometric Fluorescence Probe of Dopamine-Functionalized Carbon Nanodots for Hypochlorite Detection. Chemosensors (2022).
- N-doped carbon quantum dots for the selective detection of OCl − ions, bioimaging, and the production of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles utilized in the synthesis of substituted imidazole. RSC Advances (2024).
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