3,5-Dinitrobenzoic Acid-Capped Upconverting Nanocrystals for the Selective Detection of Melamine

In this Research Article, we report for the first time the use of upconverting nanoparticles to detect melamine up to nanomolar concentration. Detection of melamine is important as it is one of the adulterant in protein rich food products due to its high nitrogen content. In this work, we have shown how the electron deficient 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid (DNB)-coated Er/Yb-NaYF4 nanocrystals can specifically bind to electron rich melamine and alter the upconverting property of the nanocrystals. This selective binding led to the quenching of the upconversion emission from the nanocrystals. The high selectivity is verified by the addition of various analytes similar in structure with that of melamine. In addition, the selective quenching of the upconversion emission is reversible with the addition of dilute acid. This process has been repeated for more than five cycles with only a slight decrease in the sensing ability. The study was also extended to real milk samples, where the milk adulterated with melamine quenches the emission intensity of the DNB coated NaYF4:Er/Yb nanocrystals, whereas hardly any change is noted for the unadulterated milk sample. The high robustness and the sharp emission peaks make Er(3+)/Yb(3+)-doped NaYF4 nanocrystals a potential melamine sensing material over other organic fluorophores and nanocrystals possessing broad emissions.