Dual Probe Sensors Using Atomically Precise Noble Metal Clusters

Abstract

This article adds a new direction to the functional capability of protein-protected atomically precise gold clusters as sensors. Counting on the extensively researched intense luminescence of these clusters and considering the electron donating nature of select amino acids, we introduce a dual probe sensor capable of sensing changes in luminescence and conductivity, utilizing bovine serum albumin-protected atomically precise gold clusters hosted on nanofibers. To this end, we have also developed a hybrid nanofiber with a conducting core with a porous dielectric shell. We show that clusters in combination with nanofibers offer a highly selective and sensitive platform for the detection of trace quantities of trinitrotoluene, both in solution and in the vapor phase. In the solution phase, trinitrotoluene (TNT) can be detected down to 1 ppt at room temperature, whereas in vapor phase, 4.8 × 109 molecules of TNT can be sensed using a 1 mm fiber. Although the development in electrospinning techniques for fabricating nanofibers as sensors is quite substantial, a hybrid fiber with the dual properties of conductivity and luminescence has not been reported yet.

Programmable Metal Nanoclusters with Atomic Precision

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Such exquisite control endows nanomaterials many new properties for applications in optics, catalysis, sensing, biology, and biomedicine. [6][7][8][9][10][11] Programmable nanomaterials were first achieved in controlling the assembly of NP building blocks. [12][13][14][15] The nature of DNA base pairing and programmability allowed the creation of programmable nanomaterials, [16][17][18][19] which was achieved when applying DNA oligonucleotides to colloidal Au.…”

Light-Activated Intercluster Conversion of an Atomically Precise Silver Nanocluster

“…Therefore, it is of interest to explore a family of stable silver NCs with tunable properties. Various physicochemical properties such as narrow energy gap and associated multiple electronic transitions, luminescence, chirality, etc., have been used in numerous fields, including optoelectronics, nanosensors, nonlinear optics, circularly polarized luminescence, and nanocluster sensitized solar cells, etc. − Different silver NCs have been characterized through mass spectrometric studies. However, some of them, such as Ag 6 , Ag 9 , Ag 25 , Ag 29 , Ag 44 , Ag 56 , Ag 67 , and Ag 141 , etc., with specific ligand structure and overall charge, have also been characterized structurally using single crystal X-ray diffraction. − Some recent studies have also reported synthesis and structural characterization of bimetallic and polymetallic NCs following coreduction of mixed metal precursors and intercluster reactions. − Different transition metal-doped silver NCs, especially Ti and Cd, with varying numbers of dopant atoms showed different electronic features in comparison to the undoped ones. , During crystallization of nanoclusters, more than one silver NC was crystallized within the same unit, forming cocrystals, such as Ag 16 –Ag 17 , Ag 40 –Ag 46 , Ag 210 –Ag 211 , etc. − A detailed understanding of their synthesis, and associated structures, and properties has become an important research direction.…”

Molecular Materials through Microdroplets: Synthesis of Protein-Protected Luminescent Clusters of Noble Metals

“…This favors the formation of a Au 30 core inside a BSA molecule. This cluster was previously reported and studied with different techniques. ,, We followed the same ratio of metal ion/protein concentration during electrospray synthesis. As a result, the Au 30 core was formed.…”