Highly chemiluminescent silver nanoclusters with a dual catalytic center

Chemiluminescent reagent N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-ethylisoluminol (ABEI) functionalized silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) with a dual catalytic center consisting of Co2+ and AgNCs (Co2+-GSH@ABEI@AgNCs) have been synthesized via a facile one-pot strategy for the first time. The preparation and purification procedures are very simple. The as-prepared Co2+-GSH@ABEI@AgNCs show unique chemiluminescence (CL) efficiency, outperforming all the state-of-the-art chemiluminescent functionalized nanomaterials (CF-NMs). The outstanding CL performance of Co2+-GSH@ABEI@AgNCs is due to the powerful catalytic ability of the dual catalytic center in Co2+-GSH@ABEI@AgNCs, which can facilitate the generation of HO, O-2(-), and ABEI(-), leading to synergistic effects in catalyzing the CL reaction. Such Co2+-GSH@ABEI@AgNCs may find future applications in bioassays and biosensors.