Iron nanoclusters

Nanoclusters are essentially ultrasmall nanomaterials, typically with diameters between 1 and 10 nm, composed of a specific number of metal atoms (approximately 10 to several hundred) and ligands. This structure places their size between that of small molecules and traditional nanoparticles, exhibiting quantum effects. When the size of the metal core approaches the Fermi wavelength of electrons, its band structure transitions from a continuous state to discrete energy levels, thus exhibiting molecular-like properties such as single-electron transitions, multiple absorption bands, and strong photoluminescence. Iron nanoclusters (FeNCs) are a class of ultrasmall fluorescent nanomaterials composed of several to tens of iron atoms. Synthesized using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a template and protectant via a chemical reduction method, these materials possess excellent optical properties and biocompatibility. Furthermore, they can be functionalized through surface modification, leading to their wide application in fields such as bioanalysis, environmental monitoring, and disease diagnosis.