Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of silver-fluorescein co-doped phosphotungstate hollow spheres

Herein, silver-fluorescein co-doped phosphotungstate hollow spheres have been successfully synthesized using a chemical precipitation method by introducing silver ions and fluorescein at room temperature. This hybrid nanomaterial possesses a uniform structure, exhibiting a strong emission spectrum with a peak centered at 517 nm. It is anticipated that silver and fluorescein as functionalized dopants for the phosphotungstate hollow sphere structure would provide this material with multiple properties. The control experiments indicate that fluorescein plays a key role in the formation of the hollow sphere structure. Hence, the co-doping strategy is proposed to be a general method to endow polyoxometalate nanomaterials with new structures, new functions and potential applications in bioimaging, fluorescent chemical sensors, and antibacterial or optoelectronic devices.