A fluorescent carbon nitride nanofibrous hydrogel for selective sensing of Cu2+

Abstract

A carbon nitride nanofibrous hydrogel was fabricated by self-assembly/gelation of carbon nitride aqueous solution derived from thermal evaporation of bulk graphitic carbon nitride. The structure, chemical composition and optical properties of the as-prepared nanofibers were well investigated. The π–π interactions between nitrogen containing aromatic rings and hydrogen bonds between hydroxyl and amino groups were the driving forces for the formation of nanofibers and the hydrogel. A fluorescent nanofiber suspension can be obtained by dilution of the hydrogel with water. Due to the excellent fluorescence properties and the high dispersion stability in water, the carbon nitride nanofibers can be employed as a fluorescent probe for the selective sensing of Cu²⁺.