Fluorometric detection of quinolones via AIE and FRET with terbium-doped carbon dots and copper nanoclusters.

Terbium and nitrogen co-doped carbon dots (Tb@N-CDs), combined with α-lipoic acid-functionalized copper nanoclusters (LA@CuNCs), were proposed for the ratiometric detection of quinolone (QA) antibiotics. In this system, Tb@N-CDs facilitate the aggregation of LA@CuNCs, enhancing its fluorescence emission at 670 nm via aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE). Meanwhile, the fluorescence emission of Tb@N-CDs at 460 nm diminishes due to Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET).