Controlled formation of Ag2S/Ag Janus nanoparticles using alkylamine as reductant surfactants

Shedding Light on Luminescent Janus Nanoparticles: From Synthesis to Photoluminescence and Applications

Luminescent Janus nanoparticles refer to a special category of Janus-based nanomaterials that not only exhibit dual-asymmetric surface nature but also attractive optical properties. The introduction of luminescence has endowed conventional Janus nanoparticles with many alluring light-responsive functionalities and broadens their applications in imaging, sensing, nanomotors, photo-based therapy, etc. The past few decades have witnessed significant achievements in this field. This review first summarizes well-established strategies to design and prepare luminescent Janus nanoparticles and then discusses optical properties of luminescent Janus nanoparticles based on downconversion and upconversion photoluminescence mechanisms. Various emerging applications of luminescent Janus nanoparticles are also introduced. Finally, opportunities and future challenges are highlighted with respect to the development of next-generation luminescent Janus nanoparticles with diverse applications.

Binding of Gold(III) from Solutions by the [Ag6{S2CN(CH2)6}6] Cluster: Synthesis, Thermal Behavior, and Self-Organization of the Supramolecular Structure of the Double Complex [Au{S2CN(CH2)6}2]2[AgCl2]Cl·2CHCl3 (Role of Secondary Au⋅⋅⋅Cl, Ag⋅⋅⋅S, and Cl⋅⋅⋅Cl Interactions)

Abstract

The capability of silver(I) cyclo-hexamethylenedithiocarbamate to concentrate gold(III) from solutions characterized by a high level of salinity (5.15 M NaCl) into the solid phase has been established. The double chloroform-solvated Au(III)–Ag(I) complex [Au{S2CN(CH2)6}2]2[AgCl2]Cl·2CHCl3 (I) was preparatively isolated as an individual form of binding of [AuCl4]– anions. The composition of the ionic structural units of compound I indicates that gold(III) binding from a solution to the solid phase is accompanied by the complete redistribution of the HmDtc ligands between the coordination spheres of Ag(I) and Au(III). Complex I characterized by IR spectroscopy, simultaneous thermal analysis, and X-ray structure analysis (CIF file CCDC no. 2051654) exhibits the supramolecular structure containing two oppositely charged pseudo-polymeric subsystems. Complex cations [Au{S2CN(CH2)6}2]+ and anions [AgCl2]– (in a ratio of 2 : 1) form a complicatedly organized cation-anionic pseudo-polymeric ribbon ({[Au(HmDtc)2]⋅⋅⋅[AgCl2]⋅⋅⋅[Au(HmDtc)2]}+)n due to secondary interactions Ag⋅⋅⋅S (3.2613 Å) and Au⋅⋅⋅Cl (3.2765 Å). The pseudo-polymeric ribbon consists of two rows of cations and a row of anions. The outer-sphere chloride ions combine the solvate chloroform molecules by two equivalent hydrogen bonds Cl⋅⋅⋅H–C yielding anion-molecular triads [Cl3CH⋅⋅⋅Cl⋅⋅⋅HCCl3]–, which are involved in the formation of the supramolecular ribbon due to the secondary Cl⋅⋅⋅Cl interactions (3.4058 Å) between the nonequivalent chlorine atoms of the nearest solvate molecules. The study of the thermal behavior of complex I makes it possible to determine the character of thermolysis and conditions for the quantitative regeneration of bound gold.

Janus Nanoparticles: From Fabrication to (Bio)Applications

Janus nanoparticles (JNPs) refer to the integration of two or more chemically discrepant composites into one structure system. Studies into JNPs have been of significant interest due to their interesting characteristics stemming from their asymmetric structures, which can integrate different functional properties and perform more synergetic functions simultaneously. Herein, we present recent progress of Janus particles, comprehensively detailing fabrication strategies and applications. First, the classification of JNPs is divided into three blocks, consisting of polymeric composites, inorganic composites, and hybrid polymeric/inorganic JNPs composites. Then, the fabrication strategies are alternately summarized, examining self-assembly strategy, phase separation strategy, seed-mediated polymerization, microfluidic preparation strategy, nucleation growth methods, and masking methods. Finally, various intriguing applications of JNPs are presented, including solid surfactants agents, micro/nanomotors, and biomedical applications such as biosensing, controlled drug delivery, bioimaging, cancer therapy, and combined theranostics. Furthermore, challenges and future works in this field are provided.

Dithiocarbamate Complexes as Single Source Precursors to Nanoscale Binary, Ternary and Quaternary Metal Sulfides

Nanodimensional metal sulfides are a developing class of low-cost materials with potential applications in areas as wide-ranging as energy storage, electrocatalysis, and imaging. An attractive synthetic strategy, which allows careful control over stoichiometry, is the single source precursor (SSP) approach in which well-defined molecular species containing preformed metal-sulfur bonds are heated to decomposition, either in the vapor or solution phase, resulting in facile loss of organics and formation of nanodimensional metal sulfides. By careful control of the precursor, the decomposition environment and addition of surfactants, this approach affords a range of nanocrystalline materials from a library of precursors. Dithiocarbamates (DTCs) are monoanionic chelating ligands that have been known for over a century and find applications in agriculture, medicine, and materials science. They are easily prepared from nontoxic secondary and primary amines and form stable complexes with all elements. Since pioneering work in the late 1980s, the use of DTC complexes as SSPs to a wide range of binary, ternary, and multinary sulfides has been extensively documented. This review maps these developments, from the formation of thin films, often comprised of embedded nanocrystals, to quantum dots coated with organic ligands or shelled by other metal sulfides that show high photoluminescence quantum yields, and a range of other nanomaterials in which both the phase and morphology of the nanocrystals can be engineered, allowing fine-tuning of technologically important physical properties, thus opening up a myriad of potential applications.

10-Fold Quantum Yield Improvement of Ag2S Nanoparticles by Fine Compositional Tuning

Ag₂S semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) are near-infrared luminescent probes with outstanding properties (good biocompatibility, optimum spectral operation range, and easy biofunctionalization) that make them ideal probes for in vivo imaging. Ag₂S NPs have, indeed, made possible amazing challenges including in vivo brain imaging and advanced diagnosis of the cardiovascular system. Despite the continuous redesign of synthesis routes, the emission quantum yield (QY) of Ag₂S NPs is typically below 0.2%. This leads to a low luminescent brightness that avoids their translation into the clinics. In this work, an innovative synthetic methodology that permits a 10-fold increment in the absolute QY from 0.2 up to 2.3% is presented. Such an increment in the QY is accompanied by an enlargement of photoluminescence lifetimes from 184 to 1200 ns. The optimized synthetic route presented here is based on a fine control over both the Ag core and the Ag/S ratio within the NPs. Such control reduces the density of structural defects and decreases the nonradiative pathways. In addition, we demonstrate that the superior performance of the Ag₂S NPs allows for high-contrast in vivo bioimaging.