LAUSR

Abstract The polyethyleneimine-capped copper nanoclusters (PEI-Cu NCs) were prepared by using polyethyleneimine as protective agent and hydrazine hydrate as reducing agent. The PEI-Cu NCs possessed strong fluorescence intensity, excellent water solubility, good stability and high dispersion. The sample’s fluorescence could be selectively quenched by the addition of fluazinam. There was a good linear relationship between the relative fluorescence intensity of PEI-Cu NCs and concentrations of fluazinam in the range of 0.5–70 μM. The quenching mechanism might be dynamic quenching and inner filter effect (IFE). Significantly, the PEI-Cu NCs could be used to detect fluazinam as fluorescent probe in environmental water samples.