Issue 6, 2020

Nanocluster growth via “graft-onto”: effects on geometric structures and optical properties

Abstract

Atomically precise engineering on the nanocluster surface remains highly desirable for the fundamental understanding of how surface structures of a nanocluster contribute to its overall properties. In this paper, the concept of “graft-onto” has been exploited to facilitate nanocluster growth on surface structures. Specifically, the Ag2(DPPM)Cl2 complex is used for re-constructing the surface structure of Pt1Ag28(SR)18(PPh3)4 (Pt1Ag28, SR = 1-adamantanethiolate) and producing a size-growth nanocluster – Pt1Ag31(SR)16(DPPM)3Cl3 (Pt1Ag31). The grafting effect of Ag2(DPPM)Cl2 induces both direct changes on the surface structure (e.g., size growth, structural transformation, and surface rotation) and indirect changes on the kernel structure (from a fcc configuration to an icosahedral configuration). Remarkable differences have been observed by comparing optical properties between Pt1Ag28 and Pt1Ag31. Significantly, Pt1Ag31 exhibits high photo-luminescent intensity with a quantum yield of 29.3%, which is six times that of the Pt1Ag28. Overall, this work presents a new approach (i.e., graft-onto) for the precise dictation of nanocluster surface structures at the atomic level.

Graphical abstract: Nanocluster growth via “graft-onto”: effects on geometric structures and optical properties

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
11 Nov 2019
Accepted
26 Dec 2019
First published
27 Dec 2019
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2020,11, 1691-1697

Nanocluster growth via “graft-onto”: effects on geometric structures and optical properties

X. Kang, S. Jin, L. Xiong, X. Wei, M. Zhou, C. Qin, Y. Pei, S. Wang and M. Zhu, Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 1691 DOI: 10.1039/C9SC05700E

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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