A new two-dimensional luminescent Ag12 cluster-assembled material and its catalytic activity for reduction of hexacyanoferrate(iii)

Abstract

Silver cluster-assembled materials (SCAMs) have garnered significant interest as promising platforms for different functional explorations. Their atomically precise structures, intriguing chemical/physical properties, and remarkable luminescent capabilities make them highly appealing. However, the properties of these materials are primarily determined by their structural architecture, which is heavily influenced by the linker molecules used in their assembly. The choice of linker molecules plays a pivotal role in shaping the structural characteristics and ultimately determining the unique properties of SCAMs. To this end, the first SCAM with an intriguing (3,6)-connected kgd topology, [Ag₁₂(S^tBu)₆(CF₃COO)₆(TPBTC)₆]_n (termed TUS 3), TPBTC = benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid tris-pyridin-4-ylamide, has been synthesized by reticulating C₆-symmetric Ag₁₂ cluster cores with C₃-symmetric tripodal pyridine linkers. Due to the structutural architecture of the linker molecule, TUS 3 posseses a luminescent porous framework structure where each two-dimensional (2D) layers are non-covalently linked with each other to form a three dimensional (3D) framework and ultimately offers uniaxial open channels. The compact mesoporous structural architecture not only gives the excellent surface area but also offers impressive stability of this material even in water medium. Taking advantage of these properties, TUS 3 shows brilliant catalytic activity in the reduction of hexacyanoferrate(III) using sodium borohydride in aqueous solutions.