A silver nanocluster
fluorescent probe was synthesized by using
the pyridinium-based ionic liquid [C
4
py][DCA] as the protective
agent, AgNO
3
as the precursor, and NaBH
4
as
the reducing agent. The presence of pyridine group enhanced the fluorescence
intensity of Ag nanoclusters and facilitated the coordination interaction
between Ag nanoclusters and AsO
3
3–
. Therefore,
the collaborative construction of a silver nanocluster probe using
the pyridinium-based ionic liquid [C
4
py][DCA] offered outstanding
selectivity and sensitivity to detect AsO
3
3–
in water. More interestingly, the fluorescent probe quenched by
AsO
3
3–
could be recovered with the addition
of H
2
O
2
. This fluorescent probe provided a rapid
and superior method for the detection of As(III) in the linear concentration
range of 0–60 ppb with the lowest detection limit of 0.60 ppb.
The mechanism of fluorescence quenching was a static quenching, considered
to be due to electron migration between functional groups on the surface
of Ag nanoclusters constructed with [C
4
py][DCA] and AsO
3
3–
.