Issue 1, 2021

Exciting clusters, what does off-resonance actually mean?

Abstract

Noble metal clusters have unique photophysical properties, especially as a new class of materials for multiphoton biomedical imaging. The previously studied Au25SR18 exhibits “giant” two-photon absorbance cross sections. Herein, we investigate the origins of the large two photon absorption for Au25SR18, as well as 10 other Au and Ag clusters using femtosecond pump/probe transient absorption spectroscopy (fsTAS). Excited state absorbance (ESA) ubiquitous to thiolated Au and Ag clusters is used herein as an optical signature of two-photon absorbances of the 11 different Au and Ag clusters, which does not require high quantum yields of emission. The large selection of clusters, studied with a single laser system, allows us to draw conclusions on the role of the particular metal, cluster size/structure, and the effects of the ligands on the ability to absorb multiple NIR photons. The use of a laser with a 1028 nm excitation also allows us to investigate the dramatic effect of excitation wavelength and explain why laser wavelength has led to large variances in the non-linear responses reported for clusters to date. We discuss the double resonance mechanism, responsible for giant two photon absorbance cross-sections, helping match properties of metal clusters with experimental conditions for maximizing signal/response in multiphoton applications.

Graphical abstract: Exciting clusters, what does off-resonance actually mean?

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
08 Sept. 2020
Accepted
16 Nov. 2020
First published
19 Nov. 2020

Nanoscale, 2021,13, 242-252

Exciting clusters, what does off-resonance actually mean?

G. Yousefalizadeh, S. Ahmadi, N. J. Mosey and K. G. Stamplecoskie, Nanoscale, 2021, 13, 242 DOI: 10.1039/D0NR06493A

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