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Bimetallic Au 2 Cu 6 Nanoclusters: Strong Luminescence Induced by the Aggregation of Copper(I) Complexes with Gold(0) Species
Author(s) -
Kang Xi,
Wang Shuxin,
Song Yongbo,
Jin Shan,
Sun Guodong,
Yu Haizhu,
Zhu Manzhou
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201600241
Subject(s) - nanoclusters , luminescence , bimetallic strip , metal , intramolecular force , fluorescence , copper , photochemistry , quantum yield , crystallography , chemistry , ligand (biochemistry) , materials science , nanotechnology , stereochemistry , organic chemistry , biochemistry , physics , receptor , optoelectronics , quantum mechanics
The concept of aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) has been exploited to render non‐luminescent Cu I SR complexes strongly luminescent. The Cu I SR complexes underwent controlled aggregation with Au 0 . Unlike previous AIE methods, our strategy does not require insoluble solutions or cations. X‐ray crystallography validated the structure of this highly fluorescent nanocluster: Six thiolated Cu atoms are aggregated by two Au atoms (Au 2 Cu 6 nanoclusters). The quantum yield of this nanocluster is 11.7 %. DFT calculations imply that the fluorescence originates from ligand (aryl groups on the phosphine) to metal (Cu I ) charge transfer (LMCT). Furthermore, the aggregation is affected by the restriction of intramolecular rotation (RIR), and the high rigidity of the outer ligands enhances the fluorescence of the Au 2 Cu 6 nanoclusters. This study thus presents a novel strategy for enhancing the luminescence of metal nanoclusters (by the aggregation of active metal complexes with inert metal atoms), and also provides fundamental insights into the controllable synthesis of highly luminescent metal nanoclusters.