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Nano Research 2008, 1(4): 333-340 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-008-8035-2
Research Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 01 October 2008

Two Distinct Fluorescent Quantum Clusters of Gold Starting from Metallic Nanoparticles by pH-Dependent Ligand Etching

Show Author's Information Madathumpady Abubaker Habeeb Muhammed1,  Subramani Ramesh1,  Sudarson Sekhar Sinha2,  Samir Kumar Pal2,  Thalappil Pradeep1( )
DST Unit on Nanoscience (DST UNS)Department of Chemistry and Sophisticated Analytical Instrument FacilityIndian Institute of Technology MadrasChennai600 036India
Unit for Nanoscience and TechnologyDepartment of ChemicalBiological and Macromolecular SciencesSatyendra Nath Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Block JD, Sector Ⅲ, Salt LakeKolkata700 098India
Keywords:
fluorescence, pH, glutathione, Gold cluster, ligand etching
Cite this article:
Habeeb Muhammed MA, Ramesh S, Sinha SS, et al. Two Distinct Fluorescent Quantum Clusters of Gold Starting from Metallic Nanoparticles by pH-Dependent Ligand Etching. Nano Research, 2008, 1(4): 333-340. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-008-8035-2
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Abstract Full text Electronic supplementary material About this article

Two fluorescent quantum clusters of gold, namely Au25 and Au8, have been synthesized from mercaptosuccinic acid-protected gold nanoparticles of 4-5 nm core diameter by etching with excess glutathione. While etching at pH ~3 yielded Au25, that at pH 7-8 yielded Au8. This is the first report of the synthesis of two quantum clusters starting from a single precursor. This simple method makes it possible to synthesize well-defined clusters in gram quantities. Since these clusters are highly fluorescent and are highly biocompatible due to their low metallic content, they can be used for diagnostic applications.


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About this article

Two Distinct Fluorescent Quantum Clusters of Gold Starting from Metallic Nanoparticles by pH-Dependent Ligand Etching

Show Author's information Madathumpady Abubaker Habeeb Muhammed1, Subramani Ramesh1, Sudarson Sekhar Sinha2, Samir Kumar Pal2, Thalappil Pradeep1( )
DST Unit on Nanoscience (DST UNS)Department of Chemistry and Sophisticated Analytical Instrument FacilityIndian Institute of Technology MadrasChennai600 036India
Unit for Nanoscience and TechnologyDepartment of ChemicalBiological and Macromolecular SciencesSatyendra Nath Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Block JD, Sector Ⅲ, Salt LakeKolkata700 098India

Abstract

Two fluorescent quantum clusters of gold, namely Au25 and Au8, have been synthesized from mercaptosuccinic acid-protected gold nanoparticles of 4-5 nm core diameter by etching with excess glutathione. While etching at pH ~3 yielded Au25, that at pH 7-8 yielded Au8. This is the first report of the synthesis of two quantum clusters starting from a single precursor. This simple method makes it possible to synthesize well-defined clusters in gram quantities. Since these clusters are highly fluorescent and are highly biocompatible due to their low metallic content, they can be used for diagnostic applications.

Keywords: fluorescence, pH, glutathione, Gold cluster, ligand etching

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Received: 30 July 2008
Revised: 26 August 2008
Accepted: 27 August 2008
Published: 01 October 2008
Issue date: August 2008

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© Tsinghua Press and Springer-Verlag 2008

Acknowledgements

We thank Department of Science and Technology, Government of India for constantly supporting our research program on nanomaterials.

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