This paper reports a facile cyclic reduction–decomposition method for the aqueous-based synthesis of highly luminescent Ag nanoclusters (NCs) with tunable emissions. A reduction–decomposition–reduction cycle was used to modify the non-luminescent Ag NC intermediates with improved stability against subsequent etching by thiol ligands, which created a mild size-/structure-focusing (or etching) environment and produced highly luminescent Ag NCs with intense red (Ag16(SG)9) and green (Ag9(SG)6) emission. The highly luminescent Ag NCs also possessed superior antimicrobial properties against the multidrug-resistant bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa via generating a high concentration of intracellular reactive oxygen species.
- Xun Yuan
- Magdiel Inggrid Setyawati
- Jianping Xie
