Photoluminescent graphene oxide quantum dots for heavy metal ion detection combined with a microfluidic sample pretreatment

Abstract

In this study, we demonstrated a simple and rapid heavy metal pretreatment microdevice that could readily and automatically perform preconcentration, purification, and release of trace metal ions from a large-volume sample. The recovered metal ions were successfully analyzed with a DNA aptamer-linked photoluminescent graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) through electron transfer mediated fluorescence quenching.