Copper- or manganese-doped ZnS quantum dots as fluorescent probes for detecting folic acid in aqueous media

► Quenching of the fluorescence intensity of doped ZnS QDs in the presence of folic acid. ► New fluorescent sensors for folic acid. ► Detection of folic acid concentrations as low as 11 μM in aqueous solution. ► The Perrin model and fluorescence lifetimes of ZnS:Mn QDs demonstrate a static quenching mechanism. ► Quenching efficiency of ZnS:Cu QDs correlates with the Stern-Volmer model.