We describe the use of UV light under different radiation time induces a variety of fluorescence wavelength of gold quantum clusters. First, we synthesize blue-emitted gold quantum clusters by dissolving the gold trichloride in pure toluene. To simplify the expression, we assume that the several featured PL peak (425, 450, 470 nm) is the signal for blue-emitted gold quantum clusters. Undergo UV irradiation can brighten and broaden the PL spectra of gold quantum clusters, which are observed by the evolutional spectra versus exposure time. After UV light exposure, the major population of gold quantum clusters @425nm decreased and turned to gold quantum clusters@450nm, followed by the growing population of gold quantum clusters@470nm clusters. Until 2 hour exposure, the spectra become broad with major peak shifted to 525 nm. The tunable spectra from blue to green attributes to the induced growth of gold quantum clusters by UV irradiation. The UV energy indeed tunes and broadens the emission covering the whole visible-spectra range. Finally, we also utilize via proper selection of organic surfactant (such as: trioctyl phosphine, TOP) can coordinate the quantum yield enhancement of blue-emitted gold quantum clusters under UV irradiation. The experiment method is easily for gold quantum clusters synthesis. Thus we expect this materials can be developed for fluorescence labeling application in the future.

Date Published: 19 April 2016
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 9884, Nanophotonics VI, 98841W (19 April 2016); doi: 10.1117/12.2223076

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9884:
Nanophotonics VI
David L. Andrews; Jean-Michel Nunzi; Andreas Ostendorf, Editor(s)