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Copper nanocluster composites for analytical (bio)-sensing and imaging: a review

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Abstract

As an ideal substitute for traditional organic fluorescent dyes or up-conversion nanomaterials, copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) have developed rapidly and have been involved in exciting achievements in versatile applications. The emergence of novel CuNCs composites improves the poor stability and fluorescence intensity of CuNCs. With this in mind, great efforts have been made to develop a wide variety of CuNCs composites, and impressive progress has been made in the past few years. In this review, we systematically summarize absorption, fluorescence, electrochemiluminescence, and catalytic properties and focus on the multiple factors that affect the fluorescence properties of CuNCs. The fluorescence properties of CuNCs are discussed from the point of view of core size, surface ligands, self-assembly, metal defects, pH, solvent, ions, metal doping, and confinement effect. Especially, we illustrate the research progress and representative applications of CuNCs composites in bio-related fields, which have received considerable interests in the past years. Additionally, the sensing mechanism of CuNCs composites is highlighted. Finally, we summarize current challenges and look forward to the future development of CuNCs composites.

Graphical abstract

Schematic diagram of the categories, possible sensing mechanisms, and bio-related applications of copper nanoclusters composites.

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Funding

The project was supported by the Jilin Provincial Science & Technology Department, China (No. 20190201079JC); the “Thirteenth Five Year” Project of Science and Technology Research in the Education Department of Jilin Province (Grant No. 40542); and the State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis, Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, China (2019–4).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China

    Jin Mu, Yu Peng, Dawei Zhang & Qiong Jia

  2. State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China

    Zhan Shi

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  1. Jin Mu
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Correspondence to Dawei Zhang or Qiong Jia.

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Mu, J., Peng, Y., Shi, Z. et al. Copper nanocluster composites for analytical (bio)-sensing and imaging: a review. Microchim Acta 188, 384 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-021-05011-9

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