Abstract
Stable fluorescent silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) were synthesized through one-step UV photoreduction using the multiple carboxyl copolymer poly(methacrylic acid-co-itaconic acid) P(MAA-co-IA) as a novel template. The fluorescence lifetime and the quantum yield of the obtained AgNCs were 1.84 ns and 8.9% in an aqueous solution, respectively. Owing to the multiple carboxyls of the protective P(MAA-co-IA) template, the obtained AgNCs have excellent advantages such as good dispersity, and high stability, which make them suitable for highly sensitive and selective detection of Cu2+ by fluorescence quenching. A good linear relationship exists between the degree of fluorescence quenching for silver nanoclusters and Cu2+ concentration ranging from 0 to 10 μM. The limit of detection (LOD) is 6.36 nM. The result implies that the as-synthesized AgNCs show great potential in the analysis field.
Highlights
Synthesis of P(MAA-co-itaconic acid (IA))-protected AgNCs P(MAA-co-IA)-protected Ag nanoclusters were synthesized by the photoreduction procedure (Scheme 1)
To obtain an appropriate UV irradiation time during the synthesis of P(MAA-co-IA)protected AgNCs using the photoreduction, the Ag+–carboxylate complex solution was irradiated by UV light (l 1⁄4 365 nm, power 1⁄4 6 W) with different time while the molar ratio of the carboxyl group/Ag+ and the pH value of the Ag+–carboxylate complex were set as 3/1 and 5.5, respectively
The maximum emission wavelength shi hardly with the irradiation time (Fig. 1B), which indicates that the as-synthesized AgNCs are relatively uniform.[20]
Summary
Fluorescent metal nanoclusters consisting of only several to tens of atoms have received great attention over the past few decades due to their huge potential in many elds, such as chemical sensing, biological catalysis, and bioimaging.[1,2,3,4,5,6,7] Compared with large-size metal nanoparticles, metal nanoclusters possess an ultra-small size comparable to the Fermi wavelength of electrons, which makes them exhibit dramatically different optical, electronical and chemical properties.[8,9] In particular, uorescent noble metal nanoclusters have attracted special attention due to their excellent properties including good biocompatibility, low toxicity, resistance to photobleaching and a large Stokes shi .4,10 Ag nanoclusters (AgNCs), as one of the typical noble metal nanoclusters, are usually regarded as a representative research object due to their brighter uorescence, higher stability, and easy synthesis.[2,7] Generally, AgNCs can be synthesized by reducing the silver salt under the protection of templates.[11]. To obtain an appropriate UV irradiation time during the synthesis of P(MAA-co-IA)protected AgNCs using the photoreduction, the Ag+–carboxylate complex solution was irradiated by UV light (l 1⁄4 365 nm, power 1⁄4 6 W) with different time while the molar ratio of the carboxyl group/Ag+ and the pH value of the Ag+–carboxylate complex were set as 3/1 and 5.5, respectively.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
