Citation: Zhengxing Gong, Kai Shi, Xiaoyan Tu, Xinfeng Zhang. Light-driven synthesis of boron doped graphene dots for measurement of water content in organic solvents[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(2): 111677. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111677 shu

Light-driven synthesis of boron doped graphene dots for measurement of water content in organic solvents

College of Materials and Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China

zhangxinfeng09@cdut.cn

Received Date: 2 April 2025
Revised Date: 24 July 2025
Accepted Date: 6 August 2025
Available Online: 7 August 2025

Figures(4)

Boron (B) doping serves as a promising strategy to enhance the quantum yield, photostability and environmental robustness of graphene quantum dots (GQDs). In this study, we reported a light-driven strategy for the facile synthesis of boron-doped graphene quantum dots (B-GQDs). Specifically, under continuous stirring at room temperature, ultraviolet irradiation induces the progressive polymerization of o-phenylenediamine (o-PDA) precursors, resulting in the formation of GQDs; meanwhile, 2-hydroxyphenylboronic acid (2-HPBA), acting as the B source, participates in the polymerization reaction with o-PDA intermediates, ultimately yielding B-GQDs. This approach significantly improves the technology of preparing QDs, yielding B-GQDs with a remarkably high fluorescence quantum yield of 71.2%. Detailed investigations reveal that the abundant surface functional groups on B-GQDs facilitate hydrogen-bonding interactions with water molecules, enabling their application as fluorescent probes for the quantitative detection of water content in various organic solvents. By integrating B-GQDs, a paper-based fluorescent sensor was successfully designed, achieving ultra-portable water content detection with excellent performance (0%-100%).
- B–GQDs,
- Light-driven,
- Water detection,
- Paper-based sensors
1. [1]
  H. Liu, Y. Su, D. Deng, et al., Anal. Chem. 91 (2019) 9174–9180. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b01927
2. [2]
  T. Sun, H. Song, X. Xie, et al., Chem. Eng. J. 470 (2023) 144029. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.144029
3. [3]
  X. Ma, Q. Ou, J. Yuan, et al., Chem. Eng. J. 464 (2023) 142480. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.142480
4. [4]
  Q. Chen, S. Li, X. Tu, et al., Biosens. Bioelectron. 263 (2024) 116606. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116606
5. [5]
  Z. Chen, S. Li, Q. Mo, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 34 (2023) 108196. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108196
6. [6]
  R. Yadav, Y. Kwon, C. Rivaux, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 145 (2023) 5970–5981. doi: 10.1021/jacs.2c13834
7. [7]
  H. Peng, P. Liu, W. Wu, et al., Anal. Chim. Acta 1065 (2019) 21–28. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2019.03.044
8. [8]
  X. Zhang, W. Wang, L. Guan, et al., J. Anal. Test. 8 (2024) 40–51. doi: 10.1007/s41664-023-00283-x
9. [9]
  P. Feng, X. Yang, X. Feng, et al., ACS Nano 15 (2021) 6266–6275. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.0c09228
10. [10]
  W. Zhu, H. Song, L. Zhang, et al., RSC Adv. 5 (2015) 60085–60089. doi: 10.1039/C5RA08336B
11. [11]
  Z. Shang, X. Yang, Q. Meng, et al., Smart Mol. 1 (2023) e20220007. doi: 10.1002/smo.20220007
12. [12]
  S. Iravani, R.S. Varma, Environ. Chem. Lett. 18 (2020) 703–727. doi: 10.1007/s10311-020-00984-0
13. [13]
  X. Yang, P. Zhang, J. Tan, et al., J. Anal. Test. 7 (2023) 147–156. doi: 10.1007/s41664-022-00244-w
14. [14]
  M. Kaur, M. Kaur, V.K. Sharma, Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 259 (2018) 44–64. doi: 10.1016/j.cis.2018.07.001
15. [15]
  F. Yang, P. Lu, T.B. Ren, et al., Smart Mol. 1 (2023) e20220002. doi: 10.1002/smo.20220002
16. [16]
  M. Rinawati, Y.X. Wang, W.H. Huang, et al., Carbon 200 (2022) 437–447. doi: 10.1016/j.carbon.2022.08.067
17. [17]
  X. Huang, Z.L. He, Y. Chen, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 35 (2024) 109271. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109271
18. [18]
  S.J. Jeon, T.W. Kang, J.M. Ju, et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 26 (2016) 8211–8219. doi: 10.1002/adfm.201603803
19. [19]
  T.Y. Cheng, F.P. Chou, S.C. Huang, et al., J. Mater. Chem. A 10 (2022) 3650–3658. doi: 10.1039/d1ta09917e
20. [20]
  Q. Fu, S. Sun, K. Lu, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 35 (2024) 109136. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109136
21. [21]
  C.T. Hsieh, P.Y. Sung, Y.A. Gandomi, et al., Chemosphere 318(2023) 137926. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137926
22. [22]
  X. Liu, J. Deng, J. Li, et al., Sens. Actuators B: Chem. 376 (2023) 132989. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2022.132989
23. [23]
  J. Feng, H. Dong, B. Pang, et al., J. Mater. Chem. C 7 (2019) 237–246. doi: 10.1039/c8tc03863e
24. [24]
  R.S. Li, B. Yuan, J.H. Liu, et al., J. Mater. Chem. B 5 (2017) 8719–8724. doi: 10.1039/C7TB02356A
25. [25]
  S. Jiang, L. Meng, W. Ma, et al., Mater. Chem. Front. 5 (2021) 4193–4201. doi: 10.1039/d1qm00231g
26. [26]
  M. Bai, W.R. Seitz, Talanta 41 (1994) 993–999. doi: 10.1016/0039-9140(94)E0049-W
27. [27]
  Y. Dong, J. Cai, Q. Fang, et al., Anal. Chem. 88 (2016) 1748–1752. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b03974
28. [28]
  K. Anusuyadevi, S. Velmathi, J. Mol. Liq. 363 (2022) 119834. doi: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.119834
29. [29]
  P. Kumar, R. Sakla, A. Ghosh, et al., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 9 (2017) 25600–25605. doi: 10.1021/acsami.7b05335
30. [30]
  S. Yang, D. Liu, F. Liao, et al., Synth. Met. 162 (2012) 2329–2336. doi: 10.1016/j.synthmet.2012.11.011
31. [31]
  E. Budak, C. Ünlü, Opt. Mater. 111 (2021) 110577. doi: 10.1016/j.optmat.2020.110577
32. [32]
  Z. Liu, Z. Mo, X. Niu, et al., J. Colloid Interface Sci. 566 (2020) 357–368. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.01.092
33. [33]
  J. Zhu, Y. Tang, G. Wang, et al., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 9 (2017) 14470–14477. doi: 10.1021/acsami.6b11525
34. [34]
  N. Carrillo, U. León-Silva, T. Avalos, et al., J. Colloid Interface Sci. 369 (2012) 103–110. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2011.12.021
35. [35]
  D. Nicolas. Debarnot, F. Poncin. Epaillard, Anal. Chim. Acta 475 (2003) 1–15.
36. [36]
  R. Wu, Y. Cao, Z. Chen, et al., Adv. Sens. Energy Mater. 4 (2025) 100140. doi: 10.1016/j.asems.2025.100140
37. [37]
  Q. Fang, Y. Dong, Y. Chen, et al., Carbon 118 (2017) 319–326. doi: 10.1016/j.carbon.2017.03.061
38. [38]
  X.T. Zheng, A. Ananthanarayanan, K.Q. Luo, et al., Small 11 (2015) 1620–1636. doi: 10.1002/smll.201402648
39. [39]
  M.H.M. Facure, R. Schneider, L.A. Mercante, et al., Mater. Today Chem. 23 (2022) 100755. doi: 10.1016/j.mtchem.2021.100755
40. [40]
  R. Das, S. Parveen, A. Bora, et al., Carbon 160 (2020) 273–286. doi: 10.1016/j.carbon.2020.01.030
41. [41]
  S. Ge, J. He, C. Ma, et al., Talanta 199 (2019) 581–589. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2019.02.098
42. [42]
  K.B. Cai, H.Y. Huang, M.L. Hsieh, et al., ACS Nano 16 (2022) 3994–4003. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.1c09582
43. [43]
  X. Hai, Q.X. Mao, W.J. Wang, et al., J. Mater. Chem. B 3 (2015) 9109–9114. doi: 10.1039/C5TB01954K
44. [44]
  X. Xu, G. Hu, L. Mo, et al., Nanoscale 13 (2021) 6846–6855. doi: 10.1039/d0nr08128k
1. [1]
  Hong-Zhao Zan , Hai-Xin Zhao , Xi-Gui Gao , Xiao-Zhong Wang , Yun-Zhi Zhu , Guo-Kun Li , Xu-Yang Yao , Chen Li , Xiang-Wen Kong , Xiao-Wu Lei . Thermochromic luminescence in low-dimensional antimony halide for detection of trace amount of water and anti-counterfeiting. Chinese Journal of Structural Chemistry, 2025, 44(12): 100734-100734. doi: 10.1016/j.cjsc.2025.100734
2. [2]
  Menglin Zhou , Lin Zhang , Xuefei Shan , Fengqin Chang , Wentong Chen , Xuguang An , Guangzhi Hu . Hydrangea-like B/N co-doped carbon-based electrochemical sensors for the efficient and sensitive detection of aristolochic acid in Aristolochia. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(12): 111073-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111073
3. [3]
  Sinong Wang , Shanshan Jin , Xue Yang , Yanyan Huang , Peng Liu , Yi Tang , Yuliang Yang . Development of Mg-Al LDH and LDO as novel protective materials for deacidification of paper-based relics. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(9): 109890-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109890
4. [4]
  Shangqian Zhang , Jiaxuan Li , Xuan Hu , Zelong Chen , Junliang Dong , Chenhao Hu , Shuang Chao , Yinghua Lv , Yuxin Pei , Zhichao Pei . H₂S and NIR light-driven nanomotors induce disulfidptosis for targeted anticancer therapy by enhancing disruption of tumor metabolic symbiosis. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(1): 110314-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110314
5. [5]
  Xia Gao , Shuaikang Sang , Enquan Zhu , Lihua Cai , Chang Liu , Ferdi Karadas , Chao Zhang , Jingxiang Low , Yujie Xiong . Highly dispersed Ni–O site on Ni catalysts for efficient and durable light-driven dry reforming of CH4 at ambient conditions. Chinese Journal of Structural Chemistry, 2025, 44(5): 100570-100570. doi: 10.1016/j.cjsc.2025.100570
6. [6]
  Shuo Li , Qianfa Liu , Lijun Mao , Xin Zhang , Chunju Li , Da Ma . Benzothiadiazole-based water-soluble macrocycle: Synthesis, aggregation-induced emission and selective detection of spermine. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(11): 109791-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109791
7. [7]
  Jun Huang , Jiangping Qin , Caijin Ban , Jingmei Yuan , Jing Yang , Guoping Yang . Visible-light induced cascade sulfonation/cyclization reaction in water towards sulfonated dihydroisoquinolino[1,2-b]quinazolinones. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(2): 111379-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111379
8. [8]
  Yuting Wu , Haifeng Lv , Xiaojun Wu . Design of two-dimensional porous covalent organic framework semiconductors for visible-light-driven overall water splitting: A theoretical perspective. Chinese Journal of Structural Chemistry, 2024, 43(11): 100375-100375. doi: 10.1016/j.cjsc.2024.100375
9. [9]
  Yidan Chen , Junzhou Xu , Yanjun Pan , Qi Cao , Kaiping Yuan . Trace detection of benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) by chemiresistive metal oxide-based gas sensors: Recent advances in heterojunction materials design. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(2): 110606-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110606
10. [10]
  Xin Zhang , Zhihao Lu , Tianci Ren , Junxiang Tang , Shuo Li , Chenghao Zhu , Lijun Mao , Da Ma . Fluorescent "Texas-sized" macrocyclic receptors for the recognition and detection of nucleotides in water. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(11): 110946-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.110946
11. [11]
  Jia-Li Xie , Tian-Jin Xie , Yu-Jie Luo , Kai Mao , Cheng-Zhi Huang , Yuan-Fang Li , Shu-Jun Zhen . Octopus-like DNA nanostructure coupled with graphene oxide enhanced fluorescence anisotropy for hepatitis B virus DNA detection. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(6): 109137-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109137
12. [12]
  Xiaoning Li , Quanyu Shi , Meng Li , Ningxin Song , Yumeng Xiao , Huining Xiao , Tony D. James , Lei Feng . Functionalization of cellulose carbon dots with different elements (N, B and S) for mercury ion detection and anti-counterfeit applications. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(7): 109021-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109021
13. [13]
  Zhenguo Zhang , Lanyang Li , Xinlong Zong , Yongheng Lv , Shuanglei Liu , Liang Ji , Xuefei Zhao , Zhenhua Jia , Teck-Peng Loh . "Water" accelerated B(C₆F₅)₃-catalyzed Mukaiyama-aldol reaction: Outer-sphere activation model. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(7): 110504-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110504
14. [14]
  Entian Cui , Yulian Lu , Zhaoxia Li , Zhilei Chen , Chengyan Ge , Jizhou Jiang . Interfacial B-O bonding modulated S-scheme B-doped N-deficient C₃N₄/O-doped-C₃N₅ for efficient photocatalytic overall water splitting. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(1): 110288-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110288
15. [15]
  Mei Zhao , Fengyang Zhao , Jiantao Ping , Wenli Wu , Lingxi Zhao , Xinyue Luan , Li Yu , Shuhua Liu , Yongxian Guo , Juyoung Yoon , Qiongzheng Hu . A recyclable covalent organic framework for selective removal of Hg(Ⅱ) and sunlight-driven sterilization in water. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(10): 110782-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110782
16. [16]
  Yan Li , Minmin Li , Fan Dong , Wen Cui . Multiscale "pore-film" cross-linked photothermal hygroscopic sponge for solar-driven atmospheric water harvesting. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(2): 111203-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111203
17. [17]
  Huaihao CHEN , Lingwen ZHANG , Yukun CHEN , Jianjun ZHANG . A water-stable metal-organic framework probe for Al³⁺/Ga³⁺/In³⁺ detection. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(12): 2601-2608. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20250184
18. [18]
  Tianze Wang , Junyi Ren , Dongxiang Zhang , Huan Wang , Jianjun Du , Xin-Dong Jiang , Guiling Wang . Development of functional dye with redshifted absorption based on Knoevenagel condensation at 1-site in phenyl[b]-fused BODIPY. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(6): 108862-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108862
19. [19]
  Hangwen Zheng , Ziqian Wang , HuiJie Zhang , Jing Lei , Rihui Li , Jian Yang , Haiyan Wang . Synthesis and applications of B, N co-doped carbons for zinc-based energy storage devices. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(3): 110245-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110245
20. [20]
  Ziruo Zhou , Wenyu Guo , Tingyu Yang , Dandan Zheng , Yuanxing Fang , Xiahui Lin , Yidong Hou , Guigang Zhang , Sibo Wang . Defect and nanostructure engineering of polymeric carbon nitride for visible-light-driven CO2 reduction. Chinese Journal of Structural Chemistry, 2024, 43(3): 100245-100245. doi: 10.1016/j.cjsc.2024.100245

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Metrics

PDF Downloads(0)
Abstract views(11)
HTML views(1)

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142