Acid-Base-Triggered Structural Transformation of a Polyoxometalate Core Inside a Dodecahedrane-like Silver Thiolate Shell

Luminescent cyclic trinuclear coinage metal complexes with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) performance

A series of TPE-incorporated cyclic trinuclear coinage metal complexes have been prepared, and they show remarkable aggregation-induced emission performance.

Investigating the influence of a CrO42−/Cr2O72− template in the formation of a series of silver–chalcogenide clusters

A series of silver–chalcogenide clusters was synthesised based on CrO₄²⁻/Cr₂O₇²⁻ anion templates.

Hierarchical multi-shell 66-nuclei silver nanoclusters trapping subvalent Ag6 kernels

Hierarchical nano structures are hard to fabircate. Here, we present three novel hierarchical multi-shell 66-nuclei silver nanoclusters, trapping ultrasmall Ag64+ nano-fragments by nine MoO42- ions. This Ag6@(MoO4)9 core is further wrapped by an outer Ag60 shell. The Ag6 kernel evolves from reduction involving DMF solvent. Carboxylate ligands are very important in the modulation of the polygon patterns on the Ag60 shell.

Deciphering synergetic core-shell transformation from [Mo6O22@Ag44] to [Mo8O28@Ag50]

The structural transformation of high-nuclearity silver clusters from one to another induced by specific stimuli is of scientific significance in terms of both cluster synthesis and reactivity. Herein, we report two silver-thiolate clusters, [Mo₆O₂₂@Ag₄₄] and [Mo₈O₂₈@Ag₅₀], which are templated by isopolymolybdates inside and covered by ⁱPrS^- and PhCOO^- ligands on the surfaces. Amazingly, the [Mo₈O₂₈@Ag₅₀] can be transformed from [Mo₆O₂₂@Ag₄₄] by adding PhCOOH which increases the degree of condensation of molybdates template from Mo₆O₂₂^8- to Mo₈O₂₈^8-, then enlarging the outer silver shell from Ag₄₄ to Ag₅₀. The evolution of solution species revealed by time-dependent electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) suggests a breakage-growth-reassembly (BGR) transformation mechanism. These results not only provide a combined assembly strategy (anion-template + induced transformation) for the synthesis of silver-thiolate clusters but also help us to better understand the complex transformation process underpinning the assembly system.

Unusual fcc-structured Ag10 kernels trapped in Ag70 nanoclusters

A bioctahedral Ag₁₀ kernel is locked by a pair of Mo₇O₂₆^10– anions to form an inner Ag₁₀@(Mo₇O₂₆)₂ core which is further encapsulated by an outer Ag₇₀ shell to form three-shell Ag₁₀@(Mo₇O₂₆)₂@Ag₇₀ nanoclusters.

Controlled trapping atom-precise ultrasmall silver nanoparticles into silver nanoclusters is challenging; thus only limited progress has been made in this area. We are therefore inspired to isolate two novel silver nanoclusters, Ag₁₀@Ag₇₀ (SD/Ag80a and SD/Ag80b; SD = SunDi), where a novel fcc-structured Ag₁₀ kernel built from two single-edge opened Ag₆ octahedra by sharing one edge is trapped. The bioctahedral Ag₁₀ kernel is locked by a pair of Mo₇O₂₆^10– anions to form an inner Ag₁₀@(Mo₇O₂₆)₂ core which is further encapsulated by an outer Ag₇₀ shell to form three-shell Ag₁₀@(Mo₇O₂₆)₂@Ag₇₀ nanoclusters. Notably, the bioctahedral Ag₁₀ kernel has not been observed in silver nanoclusters ever before, thus representing a new embryo state of silver nanoparticles. SD/Ag80a emits in the near infrared (NIR) region (λ_em = 730 nm) at low temperature. This work will deepen our understanding on the atomic-level growth of silver nanoparticles and complicated three-shell self-assembly involving polyoxometalate (POM) and two different silver nanoclusters.

Trapping an octahedral Ag6 kernel in a seven-fold symmetric Ag56 nanowheel

High-nuclearity silver clusters are appealing synthetic targets for their remarkable structures, but most are isolated serendipitously. We report here six giant silver-thiolate clusters mediated by solvents, which not only dictate the formation of an octahedral Ag₆⁴⁺ kernel, but also influence the in situ-generated Mo-based anion templates. The typical sevenfold symmetric silver nanowheels show a hierarchical cluster-in-cluster structure that comprises an outermost Ag₅₆ shell and an inner Ag₆⁴⁺ kernel in the centre with seven MoO₄^2- anion templates around it. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analyses reveal the underlying rule for the formation of such unique silver nanowheels. This work establishes a solvent-intervention approach to construct high-nuclearity silver clusters in which both the formation of octahedral Ag₆⁴⁺ kernel and in situ generation of various Mo-based anion templates can be simultaneously controlled.

Finely Controlled Stepwise Engineering of Pore Environments and Mechanistic Elucidation of Water-Stable, Flexible 2D Porous Coordination Polymers

Two porous coordination polymers (PCPs) with different topologies (NTU-19: sql and NTU-20: dia) underwent finely controlled, stepwise crystal conversions to yield a common water-stable, flexible 2D framework (NTU-22: kgm). The crystal conversions occurred directly at higher temperature via the 3D intermediate (NTU-21: nbo), which could be observed at lower temperature. The successful isolation of the intermediate product of NTU-21, characterization with in situ PXRD and UV/Vis spectra were combined with DFT calculations to allow an understanding of the dynamic processes at the atomic level. Remarkably, breakthrough experiments demonstrate NTU-22 with integral structural properties allowed significant CO₂ /CH₄ mixture separation.

Layer-sliding-driven crystal size and photoluminescence change in a novel SCC-MOF

Solvent lubricated layer-sliding driven remarkable crystal size and photoluminescence change in a novel 2D SCC-MOF.

A pair of new chiral polyoxovanadates with decent NLO properties

Through utilizing a two-step method to successfully prepare a pair of enantiomers trataric-polyoxovanadate [(l/d-C₄O₆H₂)₂V₄O₈]·2C₆N₂H₁₈ (1-L or 1-D), these compounds show decent third-order NLO property and electrochemical behavior.

A uranyl phosphonate framework with a temperature-induced order–disorder transition and temperature-correlated photoluminescence

UPF-1 experiences a thermally induced order–disorder transition, leading to a negative linear correlation between the photoluminescence intensity and temperature, and may find application as a luminescent thermometer.

A giant 90-nucleus silver cluster templated by hetero-anions

A giant 90-nucleus silver cluster templated by hetero-anions was isolated and characterized.

High-nuclearity silver ethynide clusters containing polynucleating oxygen donor ligands

Three high-nuclearity heterometallic ethynide clusters were constructed with various polynucleating oxygen donor ligands.

Chemo-chromism in an orthogonal dabco-based Co(ii) network assembled by methanol-coordination and hydrogen bond formation

A newly prepared Co-based complex showed chromism by desorption of a coordinative solvent. Structural details and desorption/adsorption processes are discussed in depth.

Silver ethynide clusters constructed with fluorinated β-diketonate ligands

Phosphonate can act as the intermediate connector to link two silver ethynide clusters functionalized by hfac ligands together to enlarge the silver cluster.

Johnson Solids: Anion-Templated Silver Thiolate Clusters Capped by Sulfonate

Sulfonates were incorporated into six novel high-nuclearity silver(I) thiolate clusters under the guidance of anion templates varied from S^2- , SO₄^2- , α-[Mo₅ O₁₈ ]^6- , β-[Mo₅ O₁₈ ]^6- , [Mo₂ O₈ ]^4- , to [Mo₄ O₁₄ (SO₄ )]^6- . Single crystal X-ray analysis revealed that SD/Ag1, SD/Ag3, SD/Ag5, and SD/Ag6 are discrete [S@Ag₆₀ ], [α-Mo₅ O₁₈ @Ag₃₆ ], [Mo₂ O₈ @Ag₃₀ ]₂ , and [Mo₄ O₁₄ (SO₄ )@Ag₇₃ ] clusters, respectively, whereas SD/Ag2 and SD/Ag4 are one-dimensional (1D) chains based on the [SO₄ @Ag₂₀ ] and [β-Mo₅ O₁₈ @Ag₃₆ ] cluster subunits, respectively. Their silver skeletons are protected exteriorly by thiolates and sulfonates and interiorly supported by diverse anions as templates. Structurally, cluster SD/Ag1 is a typical core-shell structure comprised of an inner Ag₁₂ cuboctahedron and an outer Ag₄₈ shell. The sulfate-templated drum-like Ag₂₀ cluster subunits are bridged by PhSO₃^- to give a 1D chain of SD/Ag2. Complex SD/Ag3 and SD/Ag4 are spindle-like Ag₃₆ clusters with isomeric [Mo₅ O₁₈ ]^6- inside, and the latter is further extended to a 1D chain through PhSO₃^- bridges. A pair of [Mo₂ O₈ ]^4- templated gourd-like Ag₃₀ clusters are dimerized in a head-to-head fashion to form SD/Ag5. Complex SD/Ag6 is the largest cluster in this family and doubly templated by unprecedented [Mo₄ O₁₄ (SO₄ )]^6- anions. Geometrically, the silver shells of SD/Ag1-SD/Ag5 show the polyhedral features of Johnson solids, instead of the usual Platonic or Archimedean solids. Solution behaviors and luminescent properties were also investigated in detail.