Nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) with strong blue fluorescence and a high quantum yield of 88.9% were synthesized via a facile one-pot hydrothermal treatment with citric acid (CA) and ethylenediamine (EDA) as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. The blue fluorescence emission is independent of the excitation wavelengths. These N-GQDs dispersed well in water and ethyl alcohol and showed a highly selective and sensitive detection of hazardous and toxic Fe3