Atomically Monodispersed and Fluorescent Sub‐Nanometer Gold Clusters Created by Biomolecule‐Assisted Etching of Nanometer‐Sized Gold Particles and Rods
1. Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, State Key Lab of Silicon Materials, Key Laboratory of Macromolecule Synthesis & Functionalization of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027 (China), Fax: (+86)?571‐8795‐3733;2. Zhejiang–California International Nanosystems Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027 (China);3. Present address: Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 (USA)
Abstract:
From nanocrystals to atomic clusters : Fluorescent gold clusters (Au8) are synthesized by etching gold nanocrystals with the assistance of biomolecules, such as amino acids, peptides, proteins, and DNA (see picture). The gold clusters exhibit strong blue fluorescence as well as solvent‐dependent emission properties when dissolved in various organic solvents. They show potential applications in biological labeling and photoluminescence‐based sensors.
