Synthesis of highly fluorescent metal (Ag, Au, Pt, and Cu) nanoclusters by electrostatically induced reversible phase transfer.
This paper reports a simple and scalable method for the synthesis of highly fluorescent Ag, Au, Pt, and Cu nanoclusters (NCs) based on a mild etching environment made possible by phase transfer via electrostatic interactions. Using Ag as a model metal, a simple and fast (total synthesis time < 3 h) phase transfer cycle (aqueous → organic (2 h incubation) → aqueous) has been developed to process originally polydisperse, nonfluorescent, and unstable Ag NCs into monodisperse, highly fluorescent, and extremely stable Ag NCs in the same phase (aqueous) and protected by the same thiol ligand. The synthetic protocol was successfully extended to fabricate highly fluorescent Ag NCs protected by custom-designed peptides with desired functionalities (e.g., carboxyl, hydroxyl, and amine). The facile synthetic method developed in this study should largely contribute to the practical applications of this new class of fluorescence probes.
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119260.
Xun
X
Yuan
Zhentao
Z
Luo
Qingbo
Q
Zhang
Xinhai
X
Zhang
Yuangang
Y
Zheng
Jim Yang
JY
Lee
Jianping
J
Xie
D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D055672:Static Electricity; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D014867:Water; D012834:Silver; D010984:Platinum; D006046:Gold; D003300:Copper