Applications of Metal Nanoclusters in Environmental Monitoring

Novel optical materials are crucial for environmental monitoring. Metal nanoclusters (metal NCs), typically consisting of several to tens of metal atoms, have attracted more and more attention in recent years. Due to their ultra-small size, strong fluorescence, low toxicity, excellent stability and unique core-shell structure, metal NCs have been considered as the promising optical materials for construction of excellent fluorescent sensors. In this review, we mainly focus on the recent application progress of NCs in environmental monitoring, including the detection of pH, heavy metal ions, inorganic anions and nitroaromatic explosives.

Graphical abstractMetal NCs, including AuNCs, AgNCs, CuNCs and alloy NCs, display excellent fluorescence characteristics and can be used for fluorescence sensing in environmental, such as pH sensing, detection of heavy metal ions, inorganic anions and nitroaromatic explosives.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide