Hypochlorite　ions　(ClO−)　are　widely　used　in　bleaching　agents　and　disinfectants.　However,　high　concentrations　of　chloride　species　are　harmful　to　human　health.　Therefore,　effective　methods　for　the　detection　of　ClO−　ions　are　required.　In　this　study,　using　4-fluorophthalic　acid　and　glycine,　nitrogen–fluorine　co-doped　carbon　nanodots　(N,F-CDs)　were　synthesized　by　one-pot　hydrothermal　synthesis　for　use　as　a　fluorescent　probe　for　the　fluorometric　detection　of　ClO−　in　aqueous　media,　based　on　the　inhibition　of　n　→　π*　transitions.　The　excitation　and　emission　peak　centers　of　the　N,F-CDs　are　at　387　and　545　nm,　respectively.　The　N,F-CDs　show　a　fast　quenching　response　(−　and　can　be　used　in　a　wide　pH　range　(pH　4–13).　Under　optimal　conditions,　the　fluorescence　intensity　decreased　with　increase　in　the　ClO−　concentration　from　0　to　35　μM,　and　a　low　limit　of　detection　(9.6　nM)　was　achieved.　This　probe　possesses　excellent　selectivity　and　high　sensitivity　and　was　used　to　analyze　standardized　samples　of　piped　water,　achieving　a　satisfactory　recovery.　Thus,　this　nitrogen–fluorine　co-doped　nanodot　probe　is　promising　for　the　detection　of　pollutants.　©　2020　Elsevier　B.V.