Na detection brightening of synergistically originated noble metal nanoclusters.

Weakly fluorescent AuAg nanoclusters were obtained from glutathione, chloroauric acid, and silver nitrate aqueous solution under a modified hydrothermal method. Such glutathione-capped synergistically evolved clusters were obtained for the first time by employing our experimental conditions. Such weak fluorescence was made significantly brighter by employing Na and a Na sensor was obtained with a linear detection range of 10-5 × 10 M, while the limit of detection was 1.02 × 10 M. Na made the GSH matrix positively charged to stabilize AuAg clusters resulting in strong emissive properties. Furthermore, the effect of solvents, sunlight exposure, and temperature was gauged. Estimation of Na concentration was undertaken for natural water samples to demonstrate the practical utility of the designed nanosensor.