Issue 24, 2023

Surface functionalization of discrete metal-chalcogenide supertetrahedral clusters and the photocatalytic application

Abstract

Atomically precise metal-chalcogenide supertetrahedral clusters (MCSCs) are supposed to be more attractive for functionalization than conventional metal-sulfide quantum dots owing to their potential ability to establish precise structure–composition–property relationships. However, the accurate surface functionalization of such cluster-based species remains difficult. In this paper, we present a facile method for synthesizing discrete MCSCs decorated with different functional groups via a one-step solvothermal reaction, which was demonstrated to have better solvent dispersibility compared with ligand-free ones. In addition, the composites were also prepared by combining ligand-free clusters (or ligand-partially protected or amino-modified ones) with two-dimensional MXene nanosheets. The composites derived from amino-modified clusters exhibited optimal performance of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Furthermore, the hydrogen bonding interactions between modified amino groups and MXene nanosheets were verified by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. This work provides a facile approach for the surface functionalization of MCSCs, and facilitates the expansion of the functionality of atomically precise nano-species.

Graphical abstract: Surface functionalization of discrete metal-chalcogenide supertetrahedral clusters and the photocatalytic application

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
26 Maijs 2023
Accepted
15 Okt. 2023
First published
19 Okt. 2023

Inorg. Chem. Front., 2023,10, 7212-7221

Surface functionalization of discrete metal-chalcogenide supertetrahedral clusters and the photocatalytic application

J. Wu, Q. Fu, Z. Wu, P. Sun, X. Zhu, Y. Wang, N. Chen, D. Li and T. Wu, Inorg. Chem. Front., 2023, 10, 7212 DOI: 10.1039/D3QI00983A

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