Proton-functionalized two-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet: an excellent metal-/label-free biosensing platform

Abstract

Ultrathin graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) nanosheets, due to their interesting two-dimensional graphene-like structure and unique physicochemical properties, have attracted great research attention recently. Here, a new approach is developed to prepare, for the first time, proton-functionalized ultrathin g-C₃N₄ nanosheets by sonication-exfoliation of bulk g-C₃N₄ under an acid condition. This method not only reduces the exfoliation time from more than 10 h to 2 h, but also endows the nanosheets with positive charges. Besides retaining the properties of g-C₃N₄, the obtained nanosheets with the thickness of 2-4 nm (i.e., 6-12 atomic monolayers) also exhibit large specific surface area of 305 m² g⁻¹, enhanced fluorescence intensity, and excellent water dispersion stability due to their surface protonation and ultrathin morphology. The well-dispersed protonated g-C₃N₄ nanosheets are able to interact with negatively charged heparin, which results in the quenching of g-C₃N₄ fluorescence. A highly sensitive and highly selective heparin sensing platform based on protonated g-C₃N₄ nanosheets is established. This metal-free and fluorophore label-free system can reach the lowest heparin detection limit of 18 ng mL⁻¹.