Synthesis and evaluation of fluorescent palladium nanoclusters

Abstract

Metal nanoclusters consisting of a few to several tens of atoms have discrete energy states due to quantum size effects, which allows them to emit fluorescent. The fluorescent wavelength is dependent on the size of metal nanoclusters [1]. Much of studies on fluorescent metal nanoclusters have been focused on gold and silver. Recently we have succeeded in synthesizing platinum (Pt) nanoclusters which emit blue to yellow fluorescence [2-5]. Here we report on synthesis of fluorescent nanoclusters consisting of palladium (Pd) atoms.