Quinolino-triazole linked gold nanoparticles as sensitive 'turn-on' fluorescent Cd2+ probes

Quinoline derivatives were brought into the surface of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) through click chemistry. The fluorescence was quenched by Au NPs because of electron transfer between Au NPs and quinoline. However, upon addition of Cd2+ to the quinoline-triazole Au NP solution, it exhibited an effective switch-on fluorescence response, owing to the coordination between quinoline and Cd2+ which can efficiently block the electron transfer. What's more, the fluorescent sensor can effectively detect Cd2+ in aqueous solution with a detection limit of 1.0 x 10-5 M.