Sensitive iodate sensor based on fluorescence quenching of gold nanocluster

• BSA-stabilized gold nanoclusters were synthesized.
• Iodate etched the gold core of nanocluster and resulted in fluorescence quenching.
• Excessive iodide enhanced the etching and related quenching.
• A highly sensitive iodate sensor was developed.

In this report we described a highly selective and sensitive iodate sensor. Due to its interaction with fluorescent gold nanoclusters, iodate was capable of oxidizing and etching gold core of the nanoclusters, resulting in fluorescence quenching. Furthermore, it was found that extra iodide ion could enhance this etching process, and even a small amount of iodate could lead to significant quenching. Under an optimized condition, linear relationship between the iodate concentration and the fluorescence quenching was obtained in the range 10 nM–1 μM. The developed iodate sensor was found selective and capable of detecting iodate as low as 2.8 nM. The sensor was then applied for the analysis of iodate in real sample and satisfactory recoveries were obtained.

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