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Cowie B, Mears KL, S’ari M, Lee JK, Briceno de Gutierrez M, Kalha C, Regoutz A, Shaffer MSP, Williams CK. Exploiting Organometallic Chemistry to Functionalize Small Cuprous Oxide Colloidal Nanocrystals. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:3816-3824. [PMID: 38301241 PMCID: PMC10870705 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c10892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
The ligand chemistry of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals mediates their solubility, band gap, and surface facets. Here, selective organometallic chemistry is used to prepare small, colloidal cuprous oxide nanocrystals and to control their surface chemistry by decorating them with metal complexes. The strategy is demonstrated using small (3-6 nm) cuprous oxide (Cu2O) colloidal nanocrystals (NC), soluble in organic solvents. Organometallic complexes are coordinated by reacting the surface Cu-OH bonds with organometallic reagents, M(C6F5)2, M = Zn(II) and Co(II), at room temperature. These reactions do not disrupt the Cu2O crystallinity or nanoparticle size; rather, they allow for the selective coordination of a specific metal complex at the surface. Subsequently, the surface-coordinated organometallic complex is reacted with three different carboxylic acids to deliver Cu-O-Zn(O2CR') complexes. Selective nanocrystal surface functionalization is established using spectroscopy (IR, 19F NMR), thermal gravimetric analyses (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM, EELS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Photoluminescence efficiency increases dramatically upon organometallic surface functionalization relative to that of the parent Cu2O NC, with the effect being most pronounced for Zn(II) decoration. The nanocrystal surfaces are selectively functionalized by both organic ligands and well-defined organometallic complexes; this synthetic strategy may be applicable to many other metal oxides, hydroxides, and semiconductors. In the future, it should allow NC properties to be designed for applications including catalysis, sensing, electronics, and quantum technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley
E. Cowie
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry
Research Laboratory, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
| | - Kristian L. Mears
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry
Research Laboratory, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
| | - Mark S’ari
- Johnson
Matthey, Johnson Matthey, Blounts Court, Sonning Common, Reading RG4 9NH, U.K.
| | - Ja Kyung Lee
- Johnson
Matthey, Johnson Matthey, Blounts Court, Sonning Common, Reading RG4 9NH, U.K.
| | | | - Curran Kalha
- Department
of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, U.K.
| | - Anna Regoutz
- Department
of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, U.K.
| | - Milo S. P. Shaffer
- Department
of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Department
of Chemistry, Imperial College London, 82 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, U.K.
| | - Charlotte K. Williams
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry
Research Laboratory, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
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Cowie BE, Häfele L, Phanopoulos A, Said SA, Lee JK, Regoutz A, Shaffer MSP, Williams CK. Matched Ligands for Small, Stable Colloidal Nanoparticles of Copper, Cuprous Oxide and Cuprous Sulfide. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202300228. [PMID: 37078972 PMCID: PMC10947121 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202300228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
This work applies organometallic routes to copper(0/I) nanoparticles and describes how to match ligand chemistries with different material compositions. The syntheses involve reacting an organo-copper precursor, mesitylcopper(I) [CuMes]z (z=4, 5), at low temperatures and in organic solvents, with hydrogen, air or hydrogen sulfide to deliver Cu, Cu2 O or Cu2 S nanoparticles. Use of sub-stoichiometric quantities of protonated ligand (pro-ligand; 0.1-0.2 equivalents vs. [CuMes]z ) allows saturation of surface coordination sites but avoids excess pro-ligand contaminating the nanoparticle solutions. The pro-ligands are nonanoic acid (HO2 CR1 ), 2-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]acetic acid (HO2 CR2 ) or di(thio)nonanoic acid, (HS2 CR1 ), and are matched to the metallic, oxide or sulfide nanoparticles. Ligand exchange reactions reveal that copper(0) nanoparticles may be coordinated by carboxylate or di(thio)carboxylate ligands, but Cu2 O is preferentially coordinated by carboxylate ligands and Cu2 S by di(thio)carboxylate ligands. This work highlights the opportunities for organometallic routes to well-defined nanoparticles and the need for appropriate ligand selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley E. Cowie
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory12 Mansfield RoadOxfordOX1 3TAUK
| | - Lisa Häfele
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory12 Mansfield RoadOxfordOX1 3TAUK
| | - Andreas Phanopoulos
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory12 Mansfield RoadOxfordOX1 3TAUK
- Department of Chemistry, Department of MaterialsImperial College LondonLondonSW7 2AZUK
| | - Said A. Said
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory12 Mansfield RoadOxfordOX1 3TAUK
| | - Ja Kyung Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Department of MaterialsImperial College LondonLondonSW7 2AZUK
| | - Anna Regoutz
- Department of ChemistryUniversity College London20 Gordon StreetLondonWC1H 0AJUK
| | - Milo S. P. Shaffer
- Department of Chemistry, Department of MaterialsImperial College LondonLondonSW7 2AZUK
| | - Charlotte K. Williams
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory12 Mansfield RoadOxfordOX1 3TAUK
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