Amplification of fluorescence emission of CdSe/ZnS QDs entrapped in a sol–gel matrix, a new approach for detection of trace level of PAHs

In this work, CdSe/ZnS core/shell QDs with emission wavelengths of 535 nm, 545 nm, 555 nm and 575 nm were synthesized and the ligands on their surface were exchanged with mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) to make them water-soluble. Hydrophilic QDs were incorporated into a sol–gel GA matrix of 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (APTMS) and 3-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) to fabricate QD-entrapped membranes. The fluorescence intensity of the QDs entrapped in the sol–gel membrane was increased after being activated by the energy transfer from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAHs). The signal increase of the QDs was proportional to the increase in the concentration of the PAHs. Herein, trace levels of anthracene (ANT), phenanthrene (PHE) and pyrene (PYR) were detected through the enhancement of the fluorescence intensity of the CdSe/ZnS QD-entrapped membranes. The linear detection ranges were 0.01–0.1 μM for ANT and PHE and 0.005–0.05 μM for PYR. The QD-entrapped sol–gel membranes also showed quite good stability for the detection of PAHs over a period of 2 months.