Fluorescent silver nanoclusters with a size of roughly 2 nm were simply synthesized within 90 seconds by irradiating a mixture of silver precursor and polymethacrylic acid sodium salt solution under Xenon lamp. This convenient non-heat method was ultrafast but easy to control. The prepared nanoclusters dispersed very well in water and showed a fluorescent emission peak at 590 nm. Furthermore, these silver nanoclusters can be completely dried into powder with fluorescent properties remained. Interestingly, we found by adding a kind of ionic liquid, 1-(2'-hydroxylethyl)-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([HOEtMIm][BF4]), fluorescent intensity of silver nanoclusters can be increased. But when the amount of ionic liquid reached a certain volume, this system collapsed, fluorescent intensity decreased dramatically and the transparent solution became turbid and sticky. Anyway, this phenomenon provided a new strategy to improve the quality of silver nanoclusters. Besides, the fluorescent increase of silver nanoclusters shows a potential application in signal-on type of sensors.

Ultrafast synthesis of fluorescent silver nanoclusters and enhanced fluorescent with [HOEtMIm][BF<sub>4</sub>]

244th National Meeting (2012)

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Ultrafast synthesis of fluorescent silver nanoclusters and enhanced fluorescent with [HOEtMIm][BF4]

Ultrafast synthesis of fluorescent silver nanoclusters and enhanced fluorescent with [HOEtMIm][BF₄]