Site-specific sulfur-for-metal replacement in a silver nanocluster

Abstract

A new Ag₃₆ nanocluster with a closed electronic structure and eight valence electrons is reported, which has a similar structure to that of an open-shell Ag₃₄ nanocluster with three valence electrons, except that in the shell two (Ag-PPh₃)⁺ cations replace two S²⁻ anions specifically. The fine structural modulation leads to various levels of activity for singlet oxygen photogeneration due to the distinct optical gaps of the nanoclusters.