One-Pot Synthesis of Carbon Dots-Based Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Material and its Application in Fe3+ Detection

In this work, an efficient Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) system has been prepared using carbon dots (CDs). A one-step method has been developed using β-cyclodextrin and tryptophan to synthesize the novel CT-CDs with FRET properties. The FRET was found to occur within the CT-CDs from the tryptophan moiety to the CDs. The FRET efficiency of the system increased with excitation time, reaching a maximum efficiency after 120 min. The CT-CDs were then evaluated in Fe3+ detection application, and showed selective and sensitive detection of Fe3+ over 14 other metal ions.