Facile One-Pot Synthesis of Amino Acid-Templated Metal Nanoparticles using Protein Inspired Synthesis Approach

Fluorescent metal nanoclusters have emerged as promising materials due to their distinct photophysical and optical properties. We present a facile, aqueous synthesis method that operates under mild, room-temperature conditions and avoids the use of toxic reagents, simplifying nanoparticle fabrication while offering a low-hazard and more versatile alternative to traditional approaches. Synthesis was conducted across the twenty common amino acids. Characterization of UV-vis, fluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was performed to evaluate absorption and emission properties as well as size. Optical properties are shown to vary across samples, with some exhibiting localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) features and others showing blue fluorescence, indicative of quantum confinement in ultra-small clusters.