Protein Templated Silver Nanoclusters

Nanoclusters are smaller than their nanoparticle counterparts and have unique properties. Most research has been done on gold nanoclusters, but silver nanoclusters are said to be more robust. During the process of trying to create nanoclusters, several methods in the procedure were changed when gathering data: determining a successful silver concentration, working with the correct buffer, mixing gold and silver metals together, observing the effects of pH, and finding a good reducing agent. After experimenting with those changes, a successful protocol was adapted and modified from literature (Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2011, 21, 11205-11212) to produce the protein-templated Ag clusters. By using both NaOH and NaBH4 as reducing agents, silver nanoclusters were formed and a brown color change was observed. Different silver concentrations were created. The results from the MALDI and native gel suggest that the formation of silver nanoclusters can be created at different sizes.