Au10Ag17(TPP)10(SR)6Cl5 nanocluster: structure, transformation and the origin of its photoluminescence?

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics Pub Date: 2023-03-10 DOI: 10.1039/D3CP00459G

Abstract

Nanocluster photoluminescence (PL) has important practical applications and its rationalization is therefore of significant interest. Here, we report the synthesis, structure determination and photoluminescence of Au10Ag17(TPP)10(SR)6Cl5 (TPP = triphenylphosphine, SR = 3, 5-bis(trifluoromethyl)thiophenol, denoted as Au10Ag17). Au10Ag17 exhibited a low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 2.8%, which could be increased 15-fold by removing the two terminal silver atoms to give AgxAu25?x(SR)5(TPP)10Cl22+ (x = 11–13, SR = 2-phenylethylmercaptan, abbrev. Au12Ag13). The discovery of such a PL switch constitutes an interesting opportunity to further understand the origin of fluorescence in nanoclusters.

Graphical abstract: Au10Ag17(TPP)10(SR)6Cl5 nanocluster: structure, transformation and the origin of its photoluminescence
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