Amino Acids as the Nitrogen Source to Synthesize Boron Nitride Quantum Dots for Fluorescence Turn‐off‐on Detection of Ascorbic Acid

Abstract

The BNQDs are synthesized by simple one-step hydrothermal method, using amino acids as nitrogen source and boric acid as boron source. The BNQDs prepared by different amino acids emit strong blue fluorescence with the excitation wavelength from 280 to 400 nm. An "on-off-on" BNQDs fluorescent sensor is designed to detect ascorbic acid with Fe 3 + as medium, extending the application in sensing. The fluorescence of BNQDs is quenched by Fe 3 + on basis of the inner filter effect.With increasing of ascorbic acid, the fluorescence of BNQDs is recovered due to the oxidation-reduction between Fe 3 + and ascorbic acid. The assay is capable of recognizing ascorbic acid in the concentration range of 1-100 μM with a detection limit of 0.0833 μM. In addition, the method has the potential to determine Fe 3 + and ascorbic acid in real water samples and human serum.

A Review on van der Waals Boron Nitride Quantum Dots

“…Though the total concentration of both ions can be determined regardless of the oxidation states, detecting individual ions from the mixture is still challenging using this procedure. A similar study for Fe 3+ detection was reported by Kong et al [80].…”

“…These BNQDs have an average size of 4 nm and were made by using boric acid and ammonium hydroxide as starting materials. Besides, Kong et al [80] have reported on the hydrothermal synthesis of BNQDs using amino acids (tryptophan) as a nitrogen source and boric acid as a boron source. As compared to other nitrogen precursors, amino acids are high in nitrogen content, good in biocompatibility, and low in price.…”

“…Further, they carried out the interference effects in the presence of uric acid, dopamine, and glucose which did not respond to the Plu/BNQDs/GCE sensors, indicating good selectivity of the sensor for AA. In another study, Kong et al [80] reported a fluorescent "on-off-on" sensor to detect AA with Fe 3+ as a medium. The fluorescence of BNQDs was quenched due to the inner filter effect between Fe 3+ and BNQDs.…”

Innovative Dual-Emitting Ratiometric Fluorescence Sensor for Tetracyclines Detection Based on Boron Nitride Quantum Dots and Europium Ions

“…34 The broad absorption bands at 3459−3200 cm −1 were ascribed to the stretching of O−H and N−H. 35 The peak at 1638 cm −1 was assigned to the C−(BN) vibration, which may be induced by the interactions between C atoms and B or N atoms. 26 Furthermore, the characteristic peaks at 1150−850 and 650 cm −1 corresponded to N−B−O and O−B−O bonds, respectively, which demonstrated the oxygen-containing functional groups attached to the surface of BNQDs.…”

Dual-emission ratio fluorescence for selective and sensitive detection of ferric ions and ascorbic acid based on one-pot synthesis of glutathione protected gold nanoclusters

“…Some nanomaterials and organic molecules can be used as uorescent probes to detect Fe 3+ and AA. [17][18][19][20][21][22] However, these probes are usually difficult to prepare.…”