Energy transfer from luminescent gold nanoclusters to non-luminescent silver nanoparticles from a new perspective

Histidine protected luminescent gold nanoclusters (Au@His NCs) were synthesized that interact with non-luminescent silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) through a resonance energy transfer (RET) process where the latter acts as dark quencher. The interaction is collisional in nature as deduced by applying t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of molecular liquids 2020-11, Vol.318, p.114048, Article 114048
Main Authors: Bhunia, Soumyadip, Adhikary, Soumyanil, Purkayastha, Pradipta
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Fluorescence quenching
Gold nanoclusters
Physisorption
Resonance energy transfer
Silver nanoparticles
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Summary:Histidine protected luminescent gold nanoclusters (Au@His NCs) were synthesized that interact with non-luminescent silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) through a resonance energy transfer (RET) process where the latter acts as dark quencher. The interaction is collisional in nature as deduced by applying the Stern-Volmer equation. On external addition of a model transport protein (human serum albumin, HSA), the surface of the Au@His NCs accepts the proteins through physisorption that results into considerable enhancement of the luminescence of the Au@His NCs. The protein adsorbed Au@His NCs, on the other hand, possibly cling to the surface of the larger Ag NPs. This is confirmed from the quenching pattern of the emission from the Au@His NCs and time-resolved spectroscopy. The process contravenes the efficiency of RET and reduces the transfer of energy from the more luminescent Au@His NCs to the non-luminescent Ag NPs. On interaction with Ag NPs, the emission maximum shifts considerably to higher wavelength suggesting stabilization (due to restricted translational and rotational motions) of the Au@His NCs. The results are intriguing since the protein-aided adsorption of the luminescent Au@His NCs could restrict the energy transfer to the adsorbent (Ag NPs) in a quantitative way. [Display omitted] •Histidine protected gold nanoclusters (His@Au NCs) are luminescent.•Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are non-luminescent.•His@Au NCs collide with Ag NPs for resonance energy transfer (RET).•HSA proteins adsorb on the His@Au NCs and increase fluorescence yield.•HSA adsorbed His@Au NCs physisorp on Ag NPs for efficient RET.
ISSN:0167-7322
1873-3166
DOI:10.1016/j.molliq.2020.114048