Bovine serum albumin (BSA) is one of the most abundant proteins in serum, and its high-throughput detection is still one of the current challenges. Nitrogen‑phosphorus co-doped carbon dots (CDs) were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP) was used as a precursor for the synthesis of CDs, providing the required carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus sources for the CDs. It was also used as an organic bridge ligand for coordination polymers. Upon addition of the lanthanide metal ion Tb