Issue 15, 2024

Bright near-infrared emission from the Au39(SR)29 nanocluster

Abstract

The synthesis of atomically precise gold nanoclusters with high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) in the near-infrared (NIR) region and understanding their photoluminescence mechanism are crucial for both fundamental science and practical applications. Herein, we report a highly luminescent, molecularly pure Au39(PET)29 (PET = 2-phenylethanethiolate) nanocluster with PLQY of 19% in the NIR range (915 nm). Steady state and time-resolved PL analyses, as well as temperature-dependent PL measurements reveal the emission nature of Au39(PET)29, which consists of prompt fluorescence (weak), thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), and phosphorescence (predominant). Furthermore, strong dipole–dipole interaction in the solid-state (e.g., Au39(PET)29 nanoclusters embedded in a polystyrene thin-film) is found to narrow the energy gap between the S1 and T1 states, which results in faster intersystem crossing and reverse intersystem crossing; thus, the ratio of TADF to phosphorescence varies and the total PLQY is increased to 32%. This highly luminescent nanocluster holds promise in imaging, sensing and optoelectronic applications.

Graphical abstract: Bright near-infrared emission from the Au39(SR)29 nanocluster

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 2 2024
Accepted
15 3 2024
First published
18 3 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Nanoscale, 2024,16, 7419-7426

Bright near-infrared emission from the Au39(SR)29 nanocluster

Z. Liu, L. Luo, J. Kong, E. Kahng, M. Zhou and R. Jin, Nanoscale, 2024, 16, 7419 DOI: 10.1039/D4NR00677A

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