Template-assisted alloying of atom-precise silver nanoclusters: a new approach to generate cluster functionality

Abstract

To acquire the atomic design of new functional Ag(I) nanoclusters (NCs), a new synthetic approach of site-specific alloying has been unveiled, by which the neutral CO₂ templated Ag₂₀ core is confined through Cu containing two peripheral motif units. The impact of surface charge, size and shape of the template on the self-assembly of Ag(I) has been precisely controlled here for the first time and as a result, a similar pentagonal gyrobicupola-like Ag₂₀ core is formed while varying the templates (S²⁻, CO₃²⁻ and CO₂). However, the surface charge generated on the Ag(I) core due to the presence of a neutral template opens up the possibility of this novel alloying process. The introduction of strongly interacted peripheral motif units (DMA-CuS⁻) on the Ag₂₀ core enforces more rigidity in the skeleton that reduces the probability of non-radiative transition in the excited state by lowering the intramolecular vibration. In addition to this, the incorporation of electron-donating peripheral motif units modulates the frontier molecular arrangement that helps in attaining the synergy which would ultimately turn on the room-temperature emission properties. The electron-donating effect of the peripheral motif units further leads to a sharp reduction of the bandgap and the symmetric position of the heterometal in the cluster minimizes the intercluster distances which further influences the intercluster charge carrier transport. So, the precise structure–property correlation with this novel synthetic approach will pave the way for a well-functioning NC design.