In this study, a novel carbon dots (CDs) was prepared by using citric acid and 1,2-diaminobenzene as raw materials via hydrothermal reaction. The obtained CDs showed a fluorescence turn-off response to divalent copper ion (Cu²⁺) with high selectively and sensitively which can be observed by the naked eye. The distribution of CDs is spherical with an average diameter about 2.89 nm, as observed by scanning electron microscopy (TEM) which could easily pass through the cell membrane and can be successfully located in mitochondria. In addition, the CDs was successfully applied to imaging Cu²⁺ in HeLa cells and zebrafish owing to its excellent optical performance and low toxicity.

本研究以柠檬酸和1,2-二氨基苯为原料，通过水热反应制备了新型的碳点（CDs）。所获得的CD显示出对二价铜离子（Cu ²⁺）的荧光关闭响应，其具有选择性和灵敏性，这可以用肉眼观察到。如通过扫描电子显微镜（TEM）观察到的，CD的分布是球形的，平均直径为约2.89nm，其可以容易地穿过细胞膜并且可以成功地位于线粒体中。此外，由于具有出色的光学性能和低毒性，该CD已成功应用于HeLa细胞和斑马鱼中的Cu ²⁺成像。