Carbon nanodots prepared for dopamine and Al(3+) sensing, cellular imaging and logic gate operation.

Fluorescent carbon nanodots (CNDs) were synthesized through a facile, economic and green one-step hydrothermal process. The CNDs exhibit various merits including excellent solubility, superior photostability and low toxicity. Besides, the CNDs can be used as an effective fluorescent probe for dopamine and Al(3+). What's more, this CNDs based fluorescent probe was favorably applied to the analyses of dopamine in biological fluids and Al(3+) in food samples. This CDs based sensing platform shows its potential applications in the field of biology and food analysis with extraordinary advantages such as fast and simple as well as environmental-friendly. Inspired by these results, the prepared CNDs can be utilized as logic gates at the molecular level.