Trinuclear cationic silver nanoclusters based-on bis-(phosphine) ligands and stabilized by CF3SO3− anions

Abstract

Three trinuclear silver nanoclusters, [Ag₃(dppm)₃(^tBuCC)](CF₃SO₃)₂ (1), [Ag₃(dppm)₃(CO₃)(CH₃OH)](CF₃SO₃)·H₂O (2) and [Ag₃(dppm)₃(Cl)₂](CF₃SO₃)·3DMF (3) (dppm = 1,2-bis-(diphenylphosphino)methane) were obtained and characterized by a series of techniques including single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In the three compounds, their main body skeletons are made up of similar Ag₃ cores shaped in a silver triangle. All the three compounds consist of three silver atoms, three dppm bis-(phosphine) ligands, which are further stabilized by CF₃SO₃⁻ anions. While the other auxiliary ligands, ^tBuCC⁻, CO₃²⁻ and Cl⁻ are separately attached to similar Ag₃ cores, making them structurally different. Moreover, the luminescence properties, photocurrent responses and electrochemical properties of compounds 1–3 have been investigated. The results indicate that different structures have a very important influence on their properties. The structure–activity relationship of silver cluster materials provides positive guidance for further design and synthesis of functional silver cluster materials.