A highly sensitive and accurate SERS/RRS dual-spectroscopic immunosensor for clenbuterol based on nitrogen/silver-codoped carbon dots catalytic amplification

Preparation of multifunctional codoped carbon dots, and their new analytical applications in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) quantitative analytical method are still challenge. To overcome these problems, the nitrogen/silver-codoped carbon dots (CDN/Ag) with highly catalytic amplification are prepared by microwave method, and characterized by spectrophotometry and electron microscopy. The results show that CDN/Ag can strongly catalyze trisodium citrate-HAuCl4 reaction to generate red nanogold with resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) effect and SERS effect using Victoria blue B (VBB) as molecular probes. The CDN/Ag catalytic amplification and specific immunoreaction of clenbuterol (Clen) are coupled with highly sensitive SERS and accurate RRS to fabricate a new dual-spectroscopic strategy with a detection limit of 0.68 pg mL−1 Clen. Schematic diagram of detecting Clen by SERS/RRS dual-spectroscopy. [Display omitted] •The high catalytic activity CDN/Ag was synthesized by microwave method.•A novel SERS/RRS dual-spectroscopic immunosensor for ultratrace clenbuterol was established using CDN/Ag as catalyst.•The method has a high sensitivity and lower detection limit.