Synthesis of Fluorescent Ag Nanoclusters for Sensing and Imaging Applications

Abstract

Metal nanoparticles have attracted more and more attention in the last years due to their unique chemical and physical properties which are very different from the metal bulk material. In particular, when the size of nanoparticles decreases below two nm, nanoparticles can be described as nanoclusters (NCs), and they present peculiar optical properties. The excited electrons in addition to specific absorption bands show also a bright luminescence related to the quantum size effect which produce discrete energy levels. Optical properties (absorption and fluorescence) of these NCs are widely used in many different applications in science and engineering, such as chemical sensors, fluorescent probes for bio imaging or in environmental issues. In the present study, we report on the synthesis of silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) in aqueous phase using silver nitrate as precursor salt and L-Glutathione (GSH) as stabilizer. AgNCs were characterized using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The strong absorption and luminescence shown by these NCs are very promising for a possible exploitation both as label for bioimaging and for optical sensors for heavy metal ions.