A new silver cluster that emits bright-blue phosphorescence

Abstract

A new hexanuclear silver(I) cluster (NC-Ag6) that emits bright-blue phosphoresce with a lifetime of 22.4 μs and a quantum yield (QY) of 22% under ambient conditions was synthesized. A film combining NC-Ag6 with yellow cerium(III)-doped yttrium aluminum garnet phosphors (YAG:Ce³⁺) displays “chameleon”-like emission (including white), which is related to excitation-dependent Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between dual phosphors. The mechanoresponsive luminescence colour of this silver cluster ranges from blue to green virtually without loss of QY.