Graphene quantum dots combined with europium ions as photoluminescent probes for phosphate sensing.

The sense of it: A new type of rapid, sensitive, and specific photoluminescence (PL)-based assay has been proposed for the detection of phosphate (Pi) based on the competition of oxygen-donor atoms from Pi with those from the carboxylate groups on a graphene-quantum-dot (GQD) surface for Eu(3+) ions. The graphene-like structures combined with QD-like optical properties suggest the promising nature of the GQDs as versatile tools in the fields of analytical science and biotechnology.