Luminescent Metal Nanoclusters in Chemical Analysis: Methods of Synthesis, Spectral Characteristics, and Fields of Application

Abstract The review summarizes published data on modern methods for the synthesis of luminescent gold, copper, and silver nanoclusters. Their spectral characteristics and the key strategies for their application to chemical analysis are considered in detail. Approaches to the synthesis of metal nanoclusters using various reductants and templates are discussed, including environmentally friendly methods involving natural compounds. The specific features of the luminescence of metal nanoclusters due to quantum-chemical effects and particle morphology are described, and the effects of the nature of ligands and the size of nanoclusters on their optical properties are considered. Examples of analytical applications of luminescent metal nanoclusters to spectrofluorimetry, electrochemiluminescence, and also in biosensorics are presented. Particular attention is paid to methods for increasing the sensitivity and selectivity of the luminescence determination of a number of organic and inorganic compounds using gold, copper, and silver nanoclusters.