An investigation into the analyte-dependent fluorescence quenching of BaTiO₃ nanoparticles for the fluorimetric determination of glucose and paracetamol

This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and application of barium titanate nanoparticles (BaTiO₃ NPs) as a fluorimetric sensing platform. Nanocrystalline BaTiO₃ particles, exhibiting quasi-spherical morphology with average diameters evolving from approximately 7 to 9 nm depending on reaction time, were successfully prepared via a room-temperature chemical synthesis route. Comprehensive characterization using techniques such as XRD, SAED, TEM, FTIR, and UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed the formation of a polycrystalline perovskite structure and elucidated the material's morphological and optical properties. The synthesized BaTiO₃ NPs displayed stable, intrinsic fluorescence, optimally emitting at 467.42 nm upon excitation at ∼402.33 nm in a neutral pH environment (pH 7). This fluorescence was observed to be effectively quenched by multiple analytes, including glucose and paracetamol, establishing a basis for the development of a sensor. Quantitative analysis revealed analyte-dependent quenching efficiencies, with Stern-Volmer studies indicating glucose as the most potent quencher among those kinetically analyzed. The system demonstrated sensitive detection capabilities, achieving low parts-per-million (ppm) limits of detection (LOD) for both glucose (∼1.19 ppm) and paracetamol (∼1.04 ppm). Notably, the linear dynamic response range varied significantly, extending up to ∼1.8 ppm for glucose but reaching at least 3.6 ppm for paracetamol. The demonstrated fluorescence stability, coupled with sensitive and analyte-dependent quenching responses, highlights the potential of these BaTiO₃ nanoparticles as a versatile and robust material for developing future fluorimetric sensors.