pH-dependent preparation of glutathione-protected gold nanoclusters with different fluorescent emission and their application on Hg2+ detection

Key Points

• Gold nanoclusters exhibited varying fluorescent emissions based on pH levels during synthesis, enhancing detection capabilities.
• In testing, detection limits for Hg2+ were significantly improved, achieving a sensitivity increase up to 10 times.
• Analysis involved a pH-dependent strategy for creating glutathione-protected nanoclusters, leveraging their unique qualities.
• These findings suggest potential for advanced environmental monitoring applications, but further validation in real-world scenarios is necessary.