Wet-spinning of fluorescent fibers based on gold nanoclusters-loaded alginate for sensing of heavy metal ions and anti-counterfeiting

• Published in: Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy, 2020-04, Vol.230, p.118031, Article 118031
• Main Authors: He, Ying, Du, Enhui, Zhou, Xu, Zhou, Ji, He, Yu, Ye, Yong, Wang, Jinfeng, Tang, Bin, Wang, Xungai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-counterfeiting; Fluorescent fiber; Gold nanocluster; Sensing; Wet-spinning
• ISSN: 1386-1425
• DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2020.118031

Fluorescent and robust fibers based on gold nanoclusters-loaded alginate were successfully prepared by wet spinning of gold nanoclusters and alginate. The relationship between process conditions, mechanical properties, and fluorescent properties of fibers was investigated. The as-prepared fibers exhibited high mechanical strength (up to 7.09 cN/dtex) and remarkable red emission under ultraviolet excitation. The fibers could be used as a simple, low-cost, and high-selectivity fluorescent sensor for detecting Cu2+ and Hg2+ among various metal ions in aqueous solution, with a detection limit as low as 187.99 nM for Cu2+ and 82.14 nM for Hg2+, respectively. Furthermore, the novel fluorescent fibers were used as an anti-counterfeiting label through knitting into textile materials. The wet-spun functional fibers may be applied to the design of smart wearable sensors and flexible optical sensors. [Display omitted] •Fluorescent fibers are prepared using gold nanoclusters-loaded alginate by wet spinning.•Environment-friendly large-scale method of functional fibers is developed.•The obtained fibers exhibit high-selectivity fluorescent sensing for Cu2+ and Hg2+.•Anti-counterfeiting label is fabricated based on the novel fluorescent fibers.