Fluorescent “On‐Off‐On” Probe for Cascade Detection of Ag(I) and Ascorbic Acid Using Folic Acid Protected Copper Nanoclusters

Folic acid (FA) protected copper nanoclusters (FA‐CuNCs, λex=350 nm, λem=445 nm) were synthesized and used as a fluorescent “on‐off‐on” probe for the cascade detection of Ag+ and ascorbic acid (AA). The fluorescence emission of FA‐CuNCs at 445 nm was quenched significantly by Ag+ due to the analyte‐induced aggregation followed by the formation of larger nanoparticles. However, when AA was added to the in‐situ generated Ag@FA‐CuNCs, the fluorescence emission of FA‐CuNCs was recovered at 445 nm because of the AA‐directed reduction of Ag+ to Ag0. The experimental conditions, such as pH, incubation time, and quencher Ag+ concentrations, were optimized to achieve improved sensitivity. The detection limit for Ag+ and AA was estimated as 37.1 nM and 0.27 μM with a linearity range of 2.49–22 μM and 4.71–81.53 μM, respectively. In real sample analysis, the recoveries of Ag+ ions in river water and AA in orange juice samples were found between 99–93 % and 97–94 % using the probes FA‐CuNCs and Ag@FA‐CuNCs, respectively. Overall, this work offers a viable method for the sequential detection of Ag+ and AA using FA‐CuNCs via a fluorescence “on‐off‐on” switch mechanism. Folic acid (FA) protected copper nanoclusters (FA‐CuNCs, λex=350 nm, λem=445 nm) have been synthesized and applied for the cascade fluorescent “on‐off‐on” detection of Ag+ and ascorbic acid (AA). The practical utility was examined by quantifying the selective analytes in real samples, i. e., Ag+ ions in river water and AA in orange juice.