Angelica dahurica-derived carbon dots as a sensitive fluorescent probe for Fe3+: investigation of quenching mechanism and ascorbic acid-induced fluorescence recovery.

Biomass carbon dots (CDs) have attracted more attention owing to their low cost, environmental sustainability, better biocompatibility, and low toxicity. However, it remains a major challenge to obtain CDs with high stability and superior luminescence properties. Herein, Angelica dahurica powder, a renewable and abundant Chinese herbal resource, was selected as a biomass carbon source, and high-performance blue fluorescence-emitting carbon dots (AD-CDs) were prepared by a one-step solvothermal method. Comprehensive characterizations of the composition and optical properties reveal that the AD-CDs possess abundant functional groups, excellent water solubility, and remarkable photoluminescence stability. An experimental study indicates that Fe3+ ions exert a distinct quenching effect on the AD-CDs with a low detection limit of 0.167 μmol/L. Furthermore, the fluorescence quenching induced by Fe3+ can be effectively reversed using ascorbic acid, demonstrating potential for reversible sensing applications. In summary, the AD-CDs derived from A. dahurica promote their application in sensing technologies and contribute to the development of green and renewable nanomaterials.