Carbon-Based Quantum Materials for Advanced Environmental Sensing Technologies

Environmental contamination caused by industrialization, agriculture, and urbanization poses an increasing threat to ecosystems and human health. Pollutants such as heavy metals, dyes, pesticides, antibiotics, microbial contaminants, and microplastics persist in soil, air, and water, demanding reliable detection strategies for mitigation. Spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques offer sensitive and accurate detection; their application for on-site or real-time monitoring is limited by their high cost, time consumption, and solvent usage.

In recent years, carbon-based quantum materials, including carbon dots, graphitic carbon nitride, graphene quantum dots, and their derivatives, have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation environmental sensing of various contaminants. Their tunable photoluminescence, chemical stability, large surface area, and ease of functionalization make them adaptable to diverse detection platforms, including optical, electrochemical, photoelectrochemical and electro-chemiluminescence sensors. These materials enable sensitive, selective, and rapid identification of environmental contaminants through mechanisms such as fluorescence enhancement or quenching, charge transfer, and surface-mediated catalytic processes.

This Research Topic invites contributions on the development of nano-sensing platforms based on carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with selective surface functionalization and high photostability for the detection of environmental contaminants. Studies examining the unique optical and electrochemical properties of these nanomaterials, including fluorescence quenching, charge transfer, and energy transfer, to enable sensitive and selective detection of contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, organic pollutants, microbes, and gasses are particularly encouraged. By highlighting research that explores their sensing mechanisms, stability, and reproducibility, the topic aims to showcase work bridging the gap between laboratory-scale material innovations and practical, real-time sensing applications. We encourage contributions advancing the use of CQDs in low-cost, eco-friendly nanosensors that can be integrated into portable devices, supporting real-time environmental monitoring and sustainable pollution management.

This Research Topic aims to explore the synthesis, functionalization, and application of carbon-based quantum materials in environmental sensing technologies. Submissions should engage with, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Fabrication of optical, electrochemical, photoelectrochemical and electrochemiluminescence sensing systems for different environmental contaminant detection
• Understanding sensing mechanisms based on charge dynamics, surface chemistry, and light-matter interactions.
• Integration of carbon-based nanomaterials with other platforms, such as microfluidic and wearable sensor systems, for real-time analysis.
• Comparative investigation on the performance, selectivity and stability of various carbon-based quantum dots.
• Sustainable and green synthesis routes for environmentally friendly sensor fabrication.

We welcome research focusing on fundamental advances, innovative sensing strategies, and real-world applications. Submissions highlighting the transition from laboratory studies to practical monitoring solutions are strongly encouraged.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: Quantum dots, Carbon dots, Nanomaterial, Surface functionalization, Optical sensor, Real-time detection, Gas detection, Inorganic contaminants detection, Organic contaminants detection, Electrochemical sensor, Microbial contaminants detection

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.