Issue 39, 2008

Silver nanocluster-based fluorescent sensors for sensitive detection of Cu(ii)

Abstract

In this work, we report the first application of water-soluble fluorescent Ag nanoclusters in fluorescent sensors. The fluorescence of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA)-templated Ag nanoclusters was found to be quenched effectively by Cu2+, but not when other common metal ions were present. By virtue of the specific response toward the analyte, a new, simple, and sensitive fluorescent method for detecting Cu2+ has been developed based on Ag nanoclusters. The present assay allows for the sensing of Cu2+ in the range of 1.0 × 10−8 M to 6.0 × 10−6 M with a detection limit as low as 8 nM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The quenching mechanism was discussed based on the absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy studies, which suggested that Cu2+ quenched the emission by binding with the free carboxylic groups of PMAA polymers that surround the emissive Ag nanoclusters. In addition, the response of Ag nanoclusters toward Cu2+ was found to be reversible, which further made the present system attractive for sensor applications. The present study shows a promising step toward the application of fluorescent metal nanoclusters, which may also serve as a foundation for the further design and understanding of these novel materials.

Graphical abstract: Silver nanocluster-based fluorescent sensors for sensitive detection of Cu(ii)

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 Jun 2008
Accepted
24 Jul 2008
First published
01 Sep 2008

J. Mater. Chem., 2008,18, 4636-4640

Silver nanocluster-based fluorescent sensors for sensitive detection of Cu(II)

L. Shang and S. Dong, J. Mater. Chem., 2008, 18, 4636 DOI: 10.1039/B810409C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Spotlight

Advertisements