Facile synthesis of carbon nanodots with surface state-modulated fluorescence for highly sensitive and real-time detection of water in organic solvents.

In our study, the carbon nanodots (CDs) were synthesized by one-step solvothermal method using resorcinol as the only presusor. The obtained CDs contained abundant unsaturated oxygen-containing groups resulting from the surface oxidation. A novel, simple, and real-time fluorescent assay for the detection of water in various organic solvents was thus established by reducing the surface oxidation states. Excellent reversibility can be readily achieved by the external stimulus water and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC). The water-induced sensitive (limit of detection = 0.006%, v/v, in ethanol) and ultrafast (<1 s) response in emission properties was capable of water determination in spirit samples in both solution and solid-state paper test strips.