An atomically precise all-tert-butylethynide-protected Ag51 superatom nanocluster with color tunability†
Abstract
The tert-butylethynide ligand has been employed to construct an atomically precise all-tert-butylethynide-protected silver superatom nanocluster, Ag51(tBuCC)32 (hereafter denoted as Ag51). The identity of Ag51 is confirmed by high resolution ESI-MS and elemental analysis. Single crystal X-ray analysis revealed that the structure of Ag51 features a three-shell arrangement, Ag@Ag8/Ag6@Ag36@C24/C8. Ag51 exhibits a strong solvatochromic effect, and the emissions are strongly dependent on the solvent polarity and are tunable from blue to red by changing the solvent from less polar dichloromethane to highly polar methanol.