Detection of silver through amplified quenching of fluorescence from polyvinyl pyrrolidone–stabilized copper nanoclusters

• Published in: Mikrochimica acta (1966) Vol. 188; no. 6; p. 212
• Main Authors: Yang, Deyuan, Zhou, Ting, Tu, Yifeng, Yan, Jilin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01.06.2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Analytical Chemistry; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Copper; Copper - chemistry; Drinking Water - analysis; Fluorescence; Fluorescent Dyes - chemistry; Lakes - analysis; Limit of Detection; Manganese - chemistry; Manganese dioxide; Manganese ions; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Microengineering; Nanochemistry; Nanoclusters; Nanotechnology; Original Paper; Oxidation; Potassium Compounds - chemistry; Povidone; Povidone - chemistry; Silver - analysis; Spectrometry, Fluorescence - methods; Sulfates - chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water sampling; Manganese dioxide; Catalytic effect; Energy transfer; Silver determination; Fluorescence quenching
• ISSN: 0026-3672; 1436-5073
• DOI: 10.1007/s00604-021-04873-3

Silver ion detection with ultra-high sensitivity was established. We synthesized copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) with blue fluorescence through a one-pot process. Instead of a direct quencher toward the CuNCs, silver ions activated the strong oxidation from persulfate and subsequently converted divalent manganese ion into manganese dioxide (MnO 2 ). The surface charges of MnO 2 and the CuNCs brought them together and quenched the fluorescence from the latter. Due to silver ions’ role as the catalyst in the process, it cycled and even a small amount leads to a significant fluorescence change. This signaling provided the determination of  silver ions in the range 5 pM~1 nM, with a detection limit of  1.2 pM. The method is selective, and its applicability was validated through practical water sample analyses. Graphical abstract