One-pot synthesis of green-emitting gold nanoclusters as a fluorescent probe for determination of 4-nitrophenol

Yu Li; Qiu-Lin Wen; An-Yong Liu; Yunfei Long; Peng Liu; Jian Ling; Zhong-Tao Ding; Qiu-E Cao

doi:10.1007/s00604-019-4090-5

One-pot synthesis of green-emitting gold nanoclusters as a fluorescent probe for determination of 4-nitrophenol

Mikrochim Acta. 2020 Jan 8;187(2):106. doi: 10.1007/s00604-019-4090-5.

Authors

Yu Li^{1

2}, Qiu-Lin Wen¹, An-Yong Liu¹, Yunfei Long³, Peng Liu¹, Jian Ling⁴, Zhong-Tao Ding¹, Qiu-E Cao⁵

Affiliations

¹ Functional Molecules Analysis and Biotransformation Key Laboratory of Universities in Yunnan Province, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China.
² Xi'an Institute for Innovative Earth Environment Research, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710061, China.
³ School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, 411201, Hunan, China.
⁴ Functional Molecules Analysis and Biotransformation Key Laboratory of Universities in Yunnan Province, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China. lingjian@ynu.edu.cn.
⁵ Functional Molecules Analysis and Biotransformation Key Laboratory of Universities in Yunnan Province, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China. qecao@ynu.edu.cn.

PMID: 31916054
DOI: 10.1007/s00604-019-4090-5

Abstract

A hydrothermal method was applied to the synthesis of green-emitting gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) which are shown to be viable fluorescent probes for 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The Au NCs were prepared by using thiol-β-cyclodextrin as a template. Under 365 nm excitation, their green fluorescence has a peak at 502 nm, with a narrow emission bandwidth of only 30 nm. The fluorescence and composition of the Au NCs were characterized and the mechanism of the nanocluster formation is discussed. Due to host-guest recognition of β-cyclodextrin and 4-NP, fluorescence is quenched. The probe can selectively recognize 4-NP among other nitrophenols. A fluorometric and colorimetric assay was developed for 4-NP that works in the 0.1 to 100 μM concentration range and has a detection limit of 90 nM (at 3σ). Graphical abstractSchematic representation of hydrothermal synthesis of green-emitting gold nanoclusters using thiol-β-cyclodextrin. Fluorescence is quenched and the absorption of the nanoclusters is increases in the presence of 4-nitrophenol.

Keywords: Colorimetry; Fluorometry; Host-guest recognition; Metal nanoclusters; Thiol-β-cyclodextrin.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Grants and funding

21565030/National Natural Science Foundation of China/International