A novel electrochemiluminescence sensor based on resonance energy transfer system between nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots and boron nitride quantum dots for sensitive detection of folic acid

Abstract Electrochemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (ECL-RET) between quantum dots (QDs) was firstly proposed. In this work, boron nitride quantum dots (BNQDs) as the donor and nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots (NGQDs) as the acceptor were confirmed by the absorption spectrum, the emission spectrum and fluorescence spectrum. Based on the reaction between FA and the SO4•− in the ECL system of NGQDs/BNQDs/K2S2O8, the ECL sensing platform for FA was successfully constructed. Surprisingly, a stable and strong ECL signal was obtained based on the RET, which was used for signal-off detection of FA in the presence of coreactant K2S2O8. Notably, about 10-fold enhancement was observed compared with the absence of BNQDs. The proposed sensor showed wide linear ranges of 1.0 × 10-11 M to 1.0 × 10-4 M and a low detection limit of 5.13 × 10-12 M. Simultaneously, the sensor was successfully applied to detection of FA in human serum samples with excellent recoveries. Therefore, the NGQDs/BNQDs system provided a new perspective for development of novel ECL-RET sensors.