Gold nanocluster composition and method for detecting thiol-containing compounds

Abstract

A gold nanocluster composition and method for preparing the same are provided. The method includes providing a gold ion-containing solution. Next, the method entails mixing the gold ion-containing solution and a reducing agent solution to obtain a first mixture liquid, and heating the first mixture liquid to obtain a second mixture liquid, wherein the second mixture liquid contains the gold nanoclusters, which are partially capped by reducing agent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gold nanocluster composition, comprising:
 a gold nanocluster partially capped by reducing agent, and the gold nanocluster composition has fluorescence emission peaks at wavelength of 600-650 nm and 800-850 nm.   
     
     
         2 . The gold nanocluster composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reducing agent comprises glutathione. 
     
     
         3 . A gold nanocluster composition, comprising:
 a gold nanocluster partially capped by reducing agent, and the gold nanocluster composition has a single fluorescence emission peak at wavelength of 800-900 nm.   
     
     
         4 . The gold nanocluster composition as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the reducing agent comprises glutathione. 
     
     
         5 . A method for detecting a thiol-containing compound, including:
 providing the gold nanocluster compositions as claimed in  claim 1 ;   providing an analyte to react with the gold nanocluster compositions; and   analyzing the reaction result to check whether the analyte contains a thiol-containing compound or not.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the analyte is gas or liquid. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the mixture of the gold nanocluster compositions and the analyte can be immediately characterized by a fluorescence spectroscopy analysis system for measuring the emission intensity at specific wavelengths. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the specific wavelengths are 600-650 nm and 800-850 nm. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the reaction result has an enhanced emission intensity at wavelength of 600-650 nm and a weakened emission intensity at wavelength of 800-850 nm when the analyte contains a thiol-containing compound.