Carbon dots as a luminescence sensor for ultrasensitive detection of phosphate and their bioimaging properties.

Highly blue fluorescence carbon dots were synthesized by one-step hydrothermal treatment of potatoes. The as-obtained C-dots have been applied to bioimaging of HeLa cells, which shows their excellent biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity. The results reveal that C-dots are promising for real cell imaging applications. In addition, the carbon dots can be utilized as a probe for sensing phosphate.