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 feb 2024
Accepted
15 mrt 2024
First published
18 mrt 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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