Carbon dot-MnO2 FRET system for fabrication of molecular logic gates

Abstract

A stable deliverable solid, carbon dot-MnO2 adduct, has been exclusively synthesized from a solution phase redox reaction between KMnO4 and moderately fluorescing carbon dot. Here, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) phenomenon happens within the adduct where energy is transferred from carbon dot to MnO2 making the solid adduct non-fluorescent. The as-obtained non-fluorescing adduct can be used for N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) detection (linear detection range is 67nM–0.11mM and limit of detection is 1.27nM) through fluorescence “Turn On” phenomenon. Also in acidic medium the FRET system is disturbed and the fluorescence of carbon dots is regenerated. Inspired by these results, the carbon dot-MnO2 adduct was engaged to perform preliminary logic operations, namely YES and AND using H+ and NAC as inputs. Due to its fast response and ease of operation, the in situ generated carbon dot-MnO2 adduct could be useful to design a molecular device for biomedical research. Also the as-synthesized carbon dot system was utilized to design NOT and IMPLICATION logic gates using KMnO4 and NAC as inputs.