As a new photoluminescent nanomaterial, carbon quantum dots (CDs) have great potential in the detection of food ingredients and contaminants, owing to its merits of ease in preparation, good biocompatibility, adjustable modification, and various fluorescence response methods. However, since the rules of CDs in detecting different substances are rarely summarized by existing reports, the design of probes is blind in most cases. In this review, CDs are introduced, and the synthesis methods and optical properties of CDs are discussed. Fluorescence response mechanism of CDs in the detection of metal ions, drugs, food additives, bacteria, and nutrients has been analyzed and compared. As a result, design methods of CDs probes are divided into three, and introduction of functional groups on the surface of CDs was confirmed to be the core of design. Intermolecular interactions that different target substances tend to occur are summarized, which determines the choice of carbon source and synthesis method. Advantages, weaknesses and development trends of CDs fluorescence detection in food safety are discussed.

作为一种新型光致发光纳米材料，碳量子点（CDs）具有制备容易、生物相容性好、修饰可调、荧光响应方法多样等优点，在食品成分和污染物检测方面具有巨大潜力。然而，由于现有报道很少总结CDs检测不同物质的规律，因此在大多数情况下探针的设计是盲目的。在这篇综述中，介绍了CDs，并讨论了CDs的合成方法和光学特性。分析比较了CDs在金属离子、药物、食品添加剂、细菌、营养物质检测中的荧光响应机制。因此，CDs探针的设计方法分为三种，在CDs表面引入官能团被证实是设计的核心。总结了不同目标物质容易发生的分子间相互作用，决定了碳源和合成方法的选择。讨论了CDs荧光检测在食品安全中的优缺点及发展趋势。