l-Cysteine-Functionalized Boron-Doped Graphitic Carbon Nitride Quantum Dots: A Biocompatible Fluorescent Sensor for Cadmium Detection in Water Samarjit Pattnayak, Shubhalaxmi Choudhury, Ugrabadi Sahoo, Pragnyashree Aparajita, Surajita Sahu, Monalisa Mishra, Riya Adhikari, Garudadhwaj Hota Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 2025 Boron-doped graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots (B-gC 3 N 4 QDs) are synthesized through a simple thermal process and functionalized with l -Cysteine ( l -Cys) via an EDC/NHS coupling reaction. The resulting l -Cys/B-gC 3 N 4 QDs demonstrate a high quantum yield of 28%, excellent water solubility, and resistance to photobleaching and ionic strength. These quantum dots are employed as fluorescent probes for detecting Cd 2+ ions at trace levels in water. They exhibit a fluorescence signal enhancement in response to Cd 2+ ions, attributed to a chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) mechanism. The sensor detects Cd 2+ ions within a linear range of 0.1–0.7 μM, with a detection limit of 0.23 μM and a binding constant of 9.83 × 10 5 M –1 . Cytotoxicity assays reveal that l -Cys/B-gC 3 N 4 QDs, both alone and in the presence of Cd 2+, show no DNA damage or cell membrane disruption, confirming their nontoxic nature. Furthermore, the sensor achieves high accuracy in detecting Cd 2+ in real water samples, with recovery rates ranging from 95 to 106%. This work presents a sustainable, biocompatible, and cost-effective fluorescent probe for real-time monitoring of cadmium ions in environmental water sources.
MIL-53 (Fe)-derived α-Fe2O3 coupled with CuO hybrid nanoarchitecture: A dual-functional photocatalyst for ibuprofen removal and hydrogen production U Sahoo, S Mallick, P Aparajita, SP Mishra, D Karthigaimuthu, SK Jena, ... Separation and Purification Technology, 137004 , 2026 2026 Citations: 1
MOF-derived S-scheme g-C₃N₄/Fe₂O₃ heterojunction with intercalated carbon for enhanced multifunctional photocatalysis S Padhiari, M Tripathy, S Panigrahi, P Aparajita, U Sahoo, M Mishra, ... Separation and Purification Technology, 136390 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Iron based metal–organic frameworks MIL-53 (Fe): A comprehensive review on advanced synthesis strategies and photocatalytic energy & environmental applications U Sahoo, S Pattnayak, S Choudhury, P Aparajita, S Padhiari, G Hota Inorganica Chimica Acta, 123001 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Synergistic Charge Channelization in ZnO Quantum Dots/g-C3N4 Nanosheet Z-Scheme Heterostructure: A Bifunctional Photocatalyst for Environmental Remediation and Sustainable H2 … U Sahoo, S Pattnayak, P Aparajita, KS Nag, G Hota Journal of the Indian Chemical Society, 102282 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Temperature-induced linker defect engineering in MIL-53 Fe-MOF: A novel approach to enhance photocatalytic degradation of bromoxynil U Sahoo, P Aparajita, S Padhiari Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 13 (2), 115996 , 2025 2025 Citations: 8
B, S co-doped g-C3N4 hollow nanotubes/MIL-53 heterostructure: A MOF derived high performance Z scheme photocatalyst for bisphenol A degradation and H2 evolution U Sahoo, S Pattnayak, S Choudhury, P Aparajita, S Das, G Hota Optical Materials 160, 116778 , 2025 2025 Citations: 17
l -Cysteine-Functionalized Boron-Doped Graphitic Carbon Nitride Quantum Dots: A Biocompatible Fluorescent Sensor for Cadmium Detection in Water S Pattnayak, S Choudhury, U Sahoo, P Aparajita, S Sahu, M Mishra, ... Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 64 (3), 1460-1472 , 2025 2025 Citations: 7
Designing ZnBi 2 O 4 /ZIF-67 Derived Hollow Co 3 O 4 Decorated Reduced Graphene Oxide: A Hybrid Nanocatalyst with Boosted Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activities S Choudhury, U Sahoo, S Pattnayak, P Aparajita, UK Goutam, G Hota ACS Applied Engineering Materials 2 (7), 1766-1783 , 2024 2024 Citations: 15
Combinatorial Photoactivity Enhancement of Ternary Nanohybrids: Ag Cocatalyst-Dispersed Monoclinic Bi 2 O 3 /g-C 3 N 4 through the Synergistic Action of Induced … P Aparajita, S Das, U Sahoo, S Choudhury, S Pattnayak, S Mallik, G Hota ACS Applied Engineering Materials 2 (7), 1748-1765 , 2024 2024 Citations: 8
Facile synthesis of defect induced CeO2/MIL-53 (Fe) nanocatalyst: Strategically switching the charge transfer dynamics for remarkable enhancement of photocatalytic Bisphenol A … U Sahoo, S Pattnayak, S Choudhury, P Aparajita, DK Pradhan, G Hota Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 343, 123524 , 2024 2024 Citations: 80
Iron Based Metal-Organic Frameworks (Fe-MOFs) for Photocatalytic Energy and Environmental Applications U Sahoo 2024
L-Glutathione modified graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots: an ultrasensitive fluorescent sensor for detection of Pb2+ in water S Pattnayak, U Sahoo, S Choudhury, P Aparajita, G Hota Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry 443, 114819 , 2023 2023 Citations: 16
Strategic growth engineering of Ag self-doped Ag2CO3 on MIL-53 MOF: A novel pn heterostructure facilitates serendipitous charge migration and remarkable multimodal … U Sahoo, S Choudhury, S Pattnayak, P Aparajita, G Hota, S Ramakrishna Materials Today Communications 35, 105842 , 2023 2023 Citations: 16
S-Doped rGO-Enwrapped Magnetically Porous NiFe 2 O 4 /CuS Heterojunction: An Efficient Z-Scheme Nano-Photocatalyst for Visible-Light-Driven Tetracycline … S Choudhury, S Pattnayak, U Sahoo, P Aparajita, G Hota Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 62 (21), 8191-8209 , 2023 2023 Citations: 29
Green synthesis of carbon dot-based materials for toxic metal detection and environmental remediation S Pattnayak, U Sahoo, G Hota Handbook of Green and Sustainable Nanotechnology: Fundamentals, Developments … , 2023 2023 Citations: 2
Double charge transfer mechanistic insights into the tailoring of BiOI nanoplates and boron-doped graphitic carbon nitride: a 2D/2D anchored p–n heterojunction nanocatalyst for … P Aparajita, S Choudhury, U Sahoo, S Pattnayak, S Padhiari, M Tripathy, ... New Journal of Chemistry 47 (32), 15175-15192 , 2023 2023 Citations: 11
Silver nanoparticles embedded sulfur doped graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots: a fluorescent nanosensor for detection of mercury ions in aqueous media S Pattnayak, U Sahoo, S Choudhury, G Hota Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 648, 129377 , 2022 2022 Citations: 46
Silver-Nanoparticle-Decorated g-C 3 N 4 /MIL-53(Fe) Nanocomposites: A Pre-Eminent Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalyst toward Multimodal Photocatalytic … U Sahoo, S Pattnayak, S Choudhury, S Padhiari, M Tripathy, G Hota Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 61 (27), 9703-9716 , 2022 2022 Citations: 31
Silver nanoparticles embedded sulfur doped graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots for fluorescence sensing of mercury ions in aqueous media S Pattnayak, U Sahoo, S Choudhury, G Hota 2022
α-Fe2O3 Nanoparticles Decorated NrGO/g-C3N4 Heterostructure Photocatalyst Towards Environmental Applications S Choudhury, U Sahoo, S Pattnayak, S Padhiari 2022
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Facile synthesis of defect induced CeO2/MIL-53 (Fe) nanocatalyst: Strategically switching the charge transfer dynamics for remarkable enhancement of photocatalytic Bisphenol A … U Sahoo, S Pattnayak, S Choudhury, P Aparajita, DK Pradhan, G Hota Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 343, 123524 , 2024 2024 Citations: 80
Silver nanoparticles embedded sulfur doped graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots: a fluorescent nanosensor for detection of mercury ions in aqueous media S Pattnayak, U Sahoo, S Choudhury, G Hota Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 648, 129377 , 2022 2022 Citations: 46
Silver-Nanoparticle-Decorated g-C 3 N 4 /MIL-53(Fe) Nanocomposites: A Pre-Eminent Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalyst toward Multimodal Photocatalytic … U Sahoo, S Pattnayak, S Choudhury, S Padhiari, M Tripathy, G Hota Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 61 (27), 9703-9716 , 2022 2022 Citations: 31
S-Doped rGO-Enwrapped Magnetically Porous NiFe 2 O 4 /CuS Heterojunction: An Efficient Z-Scheme Nano-Photocatalyst for Visible-Light-Driven Tetracycline … S Choudhury, S Pattnayak, U Sahoo, P Aparajita, G Hota Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 62 (21), 8191-8209 , 2023 2023 Citations: 29
B, S co-doped g-C3N4 hollow nanotubes/MIL-53 heterostructure: A MOF derived high performance Z scheme photocatalyst for bisphenol A degradation and H2 evolution U Sahoo, S Pattnayak, S Choudhury, P Aparajita, S Das, G Hota Optical Materials 160, 116778 , 2025 2025 Citations: 17
L-Glutathione modified graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots: an ultrasensitive fluorescent sensor for detection of Pb2+ in water S Pattnayak, U Sahoo, S Choudhury, P Aparajita, G Hota Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry 443, 114819 , 2023 2023 Citations: 16
Strategic growth engineering of Ag self-doped Ag2CO3 on MIL-53 MOF: A novel pn heterostructure facilitates serendipitous charge migration and remarkable multimodal … U Sahoo, S Choudhury, S Pattnayak, P Aparajita, G Hota, S Ramakrishna Materials Today Communications 35, 105842 , 2023 2023 Citations: 16
Hematite nanoparticles decorated nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide/graphitic carbon nitride multifunctional heterostructure photocatalyst towards environmental applications S Choudhury, U Sahoo, S Pattnayak, S Padhiari, M Tripathy, G Hota New Journal of Chemistry 46 (27), 13100-13116 , 2022 2022 Citations: 16
Designing ZnBi 2 O 4 /ZIF-67 Derived Hollow Co 3 O 4 Decorated Reduced Graphene Oxide: A Hybrid Nanocatalyst with Boosted Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activities S Choudhury, U Sahoo, S Pattnayak, P Aparajita, UK Goutam, G Hota ACS Applied Engineering Materials 2 (7), 1766-1783 , 2024 2024 Citations: 15
Double charge transfer mechanistic insights into the tailoring of BiOI nanoplates and boron-doped graphitic carbon nitride: a 2D/2D anchored p–n heterojunction nanocatalyst for … P Aparajita, S Choudhury, U Sahoo, S Pattnayak, S Padhiari, M Tripathy, ... New Journal of Chemistry 47 (32), 15175-15192 , 2023 2023 Citations: 11
Temperature-induced linker defect engineering in MIL-53 Fe-MOF: A novel approach to enhance photocatalytic degradation of bromoxynil U Sahoo, P Aparajita, S Padhiari Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 13 (2), 115996 , 2025 2025 Citations: 8
Combinatorial Photoactivity Enhancement of Ternary Nanohybrids: Ag Cocatalyst-Dispersed Monoclinic Bi 2 O 3 /g-C 3 N 4 through the Synergistic Action of Induced … P Aparajita, S Das, U Sahoo, S Choudhury, S Pattnayak, S Mallik, G Hota ACS Applied Engineering Materials 2 (7), 1748-1765 , 2024 2024 Citations: 8
l -Cysteine-Functionalized Boron-Doped Graphitic Carbon Nitride Quantum Dots: A Biocompatible Fluorescent Sensor for Cadmium Detection in Water S Pattnayak, S Choudhury, U Sahoo, P Aparajita, S Sahu, M Mishra, ... Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 64 (3), 1460-1472 , 2025 2025 Citations: 7
MOF-derived S-scheme g-C₃N₄/Fe₂O₃ heterojunction with intercalated carbon for enhanced multifunctional photocatalysis S Padhiari, M Tripathy, S Panigrahi, P Aparajita, U Sahoo, M Mishra, ... Separation and Purification Technology, 136390 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Synergistic Charge Channelization in ZnO Quantum Dots/g-C3N4 Nanosheet Z-Scheme Heterostructure: A Bifunctional Photocatalyst for Environmental Remediation and Sustainable H2 … U Sahoo, S Pattnayak, P Aparajita, KS Nag, G Hota Journal of the Indian Chemical Society, 102282 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Green synthesis of carbon dot-based materials for toxic metal detection and environmental remediation S Pattnayak, U Sahoo, G Hota Handbook of Green and Sustainable Nanotechnology: Fundamentals, Developments … , 2023 2023 Citations: 2
MIL-53 (Fe)-derived α-Fe2O3 coupled with CuO hybrid nanoarchitecture: A dual-functional photocatalyst for ibuprofen removal and hydrogen production U Sahoo, S Mallick, P Aparajita, SP Mishra, D Karthigaimuthu, SK Jena, ... Separation and Purification Technology, 137004 , 2026 2026 Citations: 1
Iron based metal–organic frameworks MIL-53 (Fe): A comprehensive review on advanced synthesis strategies and photocatalytic energy & environmental applications U Sahoo, S Pattnayak, S Choudhury, P Aparajita, S Padhiari, G Hota Inorganica Chimica Acta, 123001 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Iron Based Metal-Organic Frameworks (Fe-MOFs) for Photocatalytic Energy and Environmental Applications U Sahoo 2024
Silver nanoparticles embedded sulfur doped graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots for fluorescence sensing of mercury ions in aqueous media S Pattnayak, U Sahoo, S Choudhury, G Hota 2022