A FRET fluorescent nanosensor based on carbon dots for ratiometric detection of Fe3+ in aqueous solution

A highly selective and sensitive FRET ratiometric fluorescent nanosensor has been developed for detection Fe3+ in aqueous solution and on test papers. The sensor consisted of rhodamine 6G moieties covalently coupled onto the surface of CDs. It works based on a Fe3+-triggered FRET process between CDs and ring-opened rhodamine 6G.