Nitrogen-doped carbon dots from plant cytoplasm as selective and sensitive fluorescent probes for detecting p-nitroaniline in both aqueous and soil systems.

Nitrogen-doped carbon dots with excellent water- and ethanol-solubility were facilely prepared from plant cytoplasm via a one-step hydrothermal route and revealed as low-cost, label-free and highly sensitive and selective probes for detecting p-nitroaniline in both aqueous and soils owing to a proposed hydrogen-bonding effect.