Copper ion detection using novel silver nanoclusters stabilized with amido black 10B

Novel fluorescent silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) were synthesized using amido black 10B (AB) as a stabilizing agent and then employed for the detection of copper ions (Cu 2+ ). The AB-stabilized AgNCs (AB–AgNCs) were well dispersed in aqueous solution with an average diameter of around 1.3 nm and exhibited illustrious blue fluorescence emission. Moreover, the fluorescence of AB–AgNCs could be quenched efficiently by Cu 2+ , which might be a result of the coordination between Cu 2+ and the free recognition group of AB on surfaces of AB–AgNCs, inducing the aggregation of AB–AgNCs. Based on the linear decrease of fluorescence intensity, the Cu 2+ concentration was determined in the range of 0.01–1.1 μmol L −1 and the limit of detection (LOD) was 4.0 nΜ. In addition, the detection of Cu 2+ could be performed with AB–AgNCs in the presence of other ions, including 13 kinds of conventional metal ions and 11 kinds of anions. Based on the above experiment, the developed AB–AgNC probe was successfully further applied to detect Cu 2+ in three electroplating effluents, which showed high accuracy. The process of synthesised silver nanoclusters and the application for Cu 2+ detection.