Synthesis of B, N-co-doped carbon dots with high quantum yield for the selective detection of hydrogen peroxide and ascorbic acid in food samples

• Published in: Microchemical journal 2025-02, Vol.209, p.112828, Article 112828
• Main Authors: Li, Junli, Xiang, Guoqiang, He, Lijun, Jiang, Xiuming, Zhao, Renyong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ascorbic acid; Boronate affinity; Food samples; High product yield; Hydrogen peroxide; N-co-doped carbon dots
• ISSN: 0026-265X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2025.112828

[Display omitted] •B, N-co-doped CDs with high fluorescence quantum yield and high product yield were prepared.•The obtained B, N-CDs possess excellent luminescence stability.•New fluorescence assay for AA in food samples were developed through highly selective boronate affinity.•New fluorescence assay for H2O2 in food samples were developed through highly selective redox reaction. B, N-co-doped carbon dots (B, N-CDs) were prepared using hydrothermal method with 3-amino phenylboronic acid (3-APBA) as a precursor, yielding 82.5 %. The as-prepared B, N-CDs demonstrated highly stable fluorescence emission with a fluorescence quantum yield (FQY) of 51.4 % under various experimental conditions including 4 M NaCl solution, 120 days of storage, and solution temperature of 100 °C. Based on the boronate affinity between boric acid groups on the surface of B, N-CDs, and the cis-diol structure of ascorbic acid (AA), a novel fluorescence assay for AA was established with a detection limit of 41 nM. Additionally, based on the redox reaction between hydroperoxide (H2O2) and boric acid groups on B, N-CDs, a fluorescence assay for H2O2 with a detection limit of 4.5 nM was developed. The proposed fluorescent assay methods were successfully applied for the determination of AA and H2O2 traces in food samples, and the spiking recoveries were in the range of 82.5 % −115.75 %.