Fast microwave-assisted synthesis of AuAg bimetallic nanoclusters with strong yellow emission and their response to mercury(II) ions

Strong yellow emitted bovine serum albumin stabilized AuAg BNCs were synthesized one-step by microwave irradiation within several minutes. The as prepared BSA-AuAg BNCs displays good response to Hg2+ due to the silver effect in AuAg BNCs, and the sensitivity of sensor prepared by BSA-AuAg BNCs is 6.3-fold higher than that of BSA-Au NCs. This work highlights a new approach to fabricate highly sensitive fluorescence sensors based on fluorescent bimetal nanoclusters.