Manganese
dioxide (MnO
2
) nanosheet-based fluorescence sensors often
use oxidase-like activity or wide absorption spectrum for detection
of antioxidants. In those strategies, MnO
2
nanosheets were
reduced to Mn
2+
by antioxidants. However, few strategies
emphasize the role of Mn
2+
obtained from MnO
2
reduction in the design of the fluorescence sensor. Herein, we expanded
the application of a MnO
2
nanosheet-based fluorescence
sensor by involving Mn
2+
in the detection process using
ascorbic acid (AA) as a model target. In this strategy, carbon dots
(CDs), MnO
2
nanosheets, and tetraphenylporphyrin tetrasulfonic
acid (TPPS) comprise a ternary system for ratiometric fluorescence
detection of AA. Initially, CDs were quenched by MnO
2
nanosheets
based on the inner filter effect, while TPPS maintained its fluorescence
intensity. After the addition of AA, MnO
2
nanosheets were
reduced to Mn
2+
so that the fluorescence intensity of CDs
was recovered and TTPS was quenched by coordination with Mn
2+
. Overall, AA triggered an emission intensity increase at 440 nm
for CDs and a decrease at 640 nm for TPPS. The ratio intensity of
CDs to TPPS (
F
440
/
F
640
) showed a good linear relationship from 0.5 to 40 μM,
with a low detection limit of 0.13 μM for AA detection. By means
of the alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-triggered generation of AA, this
strategy can be applied for the detection of ALP in the range of 0.1–100
mU/mL, with a detection limit of 0.04 mU/mL. Furthermore, this sensor
was applied to detect AA and ALP in real, complex samples with ideal
recovery. This novel platform extended the application of MnO
2
nanosheet-based fluorescence sensors.