“Red-to-blue” colorimetric detection of cysteine via anti-etching of silver nanoprisms

Abstract

A mechanistic scheme of the AgNPR system for Cys detection is presented. In the absence of Cys, I⁻could attach to the corners and edges of AgNPRsviathe Ag–I bond resulting in the morphology transition from nanoprism to nanodisk. Cys can prevent I⁻from attaching to the AgNPRs' surface and keep the shape frozen.