Photophysical characterization of fluorescent metal nanoclusters sythesized using oligonucleotides, proteins and small reagent moleucles
Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: The size transition from bulk metals to insulating nanoparticles and eventually to single atoms passes through the relatively unexplored few-atom nanocluster region. With climensions close to the Fermi wavelength, these nanoclusters demonstrate molecule-like properties distinct from bulk metals or atoms, such as discrete and size-tunable electronic transitions which lead to photoluminescence. Current research aims to elucidate the fundamental photophysical properties of the existing metal nanoclusters made by different means and based on different encapsulation agents. Here, we report the study of the photophysical properties, including quantum yields, lifetimes, extinction coefficients, blinking dynamics and sizes, of silver and gold nanoclusters synthesized using oligonucleotides, a protein (bovine serum albumin) and a Good's buffer molecule (MES, 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid) as encapsulation agents. We also investigate the change of photoluminescence under varying conditions (time, temperature and salt). Furthermore, it is demonstrated here that fluorescent metal clusters can be used as a donor in forming resonance energy transfer pairs with a commercial organic quenching dye.
Institution: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1560309515