Development of Lead-Free Fluorescent Probe for Fungicide Detection

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at the Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology in Gujarat, India, have developed a lead-free fluorescent probe for the detection of Tebuconazole (TEB), a widely used fungicide in agriculture. The probe, composed of phenanthroline-stabilized Cs3Cu2Cl5 perovskite quantum dots, has shown a high fluorescence quantum yield of 31.07% and a detection limit of 3.44 nM. This breakthrough could potentially reduce the risks associated with TEB exposure and facilitate the development of more effective and sustainable agricultural practices.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers successfully synthesized lead-free green emissive phenanthroline-stabilized Cs3Cu2Cl5 perovskite quantum dots (Phen@Cs3Cu2Cl5 PQDs) with a fluorescence quantum yield of 31.07%.
  • The as-prepared Phen@Cs3Cu2Cl5 PQDs were used as a sensing probe for the detection of TEB, showing a good linear concentration range of 0.01-25 μM and a detection limit of 3.44 nM.
  • The developed method exhibited good recoveries in spiked cabbage and rice samples, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranging from 0.26-1.23% and 0.71-1.95%, respectively.
  • The proposed Phen@Cs3Cu2Cl5 PQDs can serve as efficient fluorometric sensors for real-time detection of TEB in food samples.
  • Funders for this research include the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) - India, the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS), and the Department of Science & Technology (India), as well as the National Research Foundation of Korea.

Statistics:

  • Fluorescence quantum yield: 31.07%
  • Detection limit: 3.44 nM
  • Linear concentration range: 0.01-25 μM
  • Relative standard deviations (RSDs) for spiked cabbage and rice samples: 0.26-1.23% and 0.71-1.95%, respectively

Sources:

  • "Phenanthroline-capped Cs3Cu2Cl5 Perovskite Quantum Dots for Fluorescence Sensing of Tebuconazole Fungicide." ACS Applied Nano Materials 8, no. 32 (2025): 16186-16195.
  • NewsRx. "Findings from Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology Yields New Findings on Quantum Dots (Phenanthroline-capped Cs3Cu2Cl5 Perovskite Quantum Dots for Fluorescence Sensing of Tebuconazole Fungicide)." Journal of Physics Research, October 21, 2025, p. 319.