Designing inorganically functionalized magic-size II–VI clusters and unraveling their surface states

Abstract

Surface engineering is a critical step in the functionalization of nanomaterials to improve their optical and electrochemical properties. However, this process remains a challenge in II–VI magic-size clusters (MSCs) due to their high sensitivity to the environment. Herein, we developed a general surface modification strategy to design all-inorganic MSCs by using certain metal salts (cation = Zn²⁺, In³⁺; Anion = Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, OTf⁻) and stabilized (CdS)₃₄, (CdSe)₃₄ and (ZnSe)₃₄ MSCs in polar solvents. We further investigated the surface states of II–VI MSCs using electrochemiluminescence (ECL). The mechanism study revealed that the ECL emission was attributed to . Two ECL emissions at 556 nm and 530 nm demonstrated two surface passivation modes on (CdS)₃₄ MSCs, which can be tuned by the surface ligands. The achievement of surface engineering opens a new design space for functional MSC compounds.