Rational Design Copper Nanocluster-Based Fluorescent Sensors towards Heavy Metal Ions: A Review

Abstract

Recently, copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) have attracted great research interest for their low synthesis cost, wide application, and easy functionalization. Until now, CuNCs have been developed and applied in multi-fields such as sensing, catalysis, light-emitting diode manufacturing, and cell imaging. Furthermore, the application of heavy metal ions (HMIs) detection is also regarded as a major part of fluorescence sensing and the necessity of detecting the makeup of HMIs (Ag+, Te3+, Co2+, Se6+, Hg2+, Mn2+, etc.) in organisms and the environment. This has promoted the development of CuNCs in fluorescence sensing. This paper reviews the research progress of CuNCs detection in HMIs, which can be divided into four parts. The synthesis and characterization of CuNCs are first described. Then, the synthesis methods making the types of CuNCs more varied are also summarized. Furthermore, mechanisms of fluorescence changes induced by HMIs are explained. After that, the relevant reports of CuNCs in several typical HMI detection are further listed. In addition, combined with the above content, the challenges and prospects of CuNCs in HMIs detection are also proposed.

Green synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots from Robinia hispida L. leaves for selective detection of Hg (II)

“…The slope of the resulting curves was calculated. The quantum yield of the CDs was then determined using equation (4) (Yuan et al 2023):…”

“…Often, fluorescent materials used for the detection of Hg(II) are based on changes in emission intensity caused by the interaction of specific functional groups on the sensor surface with heavy metal ions. Such a sensor's role can be assumed by carbon-based materials (Yuan et al 2023), such as carbon dots (CDs), which are the smallest member of the carbon nanomaterial family.…”

Folic Acid Detection Using β-Cyclodextrin-Functionalized Copper Nanoclusters and Vitamin B6 Cofactor Pyridoxal

“…As illustrated in Scheme , the β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and l -cysteine protected fluorescent copper nanoclusters (β-CD-CuNCs) were prepared. The fluorescent copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) are widely employed in the field of sensing due to their low cost and ease of availability of Cu salts for the synthesis of CuNCs in comparison to the overpriced AgNCs and AuNCs. − The functionalized β-CD made of seven glucopyranose units possesses a truncated conical structure with a hydrophobic core chamber and a hydrophilic outer rim. It is readily accessible, nontoxic, and soluble in aqueous medium with the hydroxyl groups available for easy functionalization over nanomaterials.…”

A rapid and sensitive colorimetric sensor for hypochlorite detection based on polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized gold nanoparticles

“…Some analytical techniques, such as electrochemical sensors, 5 uorescence sensors, [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, 13,14 quantum-dot-based assays, 15 luminescencebased sensors 16 and colorimetric assays, [17][18][19] have been developed for the detection of OCl − . Colorimetric detections are convenient and effective in many applications because the readout requires only human eyes, without the aid of any sophisticated instruments.…”