We report a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) system in which the fluorescent donor is fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) dye and the fluorescent acceptor is CdTe quantum dot (QDs). Based on FRET quenching theory, we designed a method to detect the concentration of silver ions (Ag(+)). The results revealed a good linear trend over Ag(+) concentrations in the range 0.01-8.96 nmol/L, a range that was larger than with other methods; the quenching coefficient is 0.442. The FRET mechanism and physical mechanisms responsible for dynamic quenching are also discussed.
Keywords: energy-transfer efficiency; fluorescence resonance energy transfer; fluorescence spectrum; quantum dots; quenching method.
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