Atomically Precise Doping of Monomanganese Ion into Coreless Supertetrahedral Chalcogenide Nanocluster Inducing Unusual Red Shift in Mn2+ Emission

Geometric Transformation of Modified Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes-Based Heterometallic Nanostructured Material: A Model for the Electrochemical Discrimination of Insecticides

Multifunctional carbon-based materials exhibit a large number of unprecedented active sites via an electron transfer process and act as a desired platform for exploring high-performance electroactive material. Herein, we exemplify the holistic design of a heterometallic nanostructured material (MWCNTs@KR-6/Mn/Sn/Pb) formed by the integration of metals (Mn2+, Sn2+, and Pb2+) and a dipodal ligand (KR-6) at the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). First, MWCNTs@KR-6 was readily synthesized via a noncovalent approach, which was further sequentially doped by Mn2+, Sn2+, and Pb2+ to give MWCNTs@KR-6/Mn/Sn/Pb. The designed material showed excellent electrochemical activity for the discrimination of insecticides belonging to structurally different classes. In contrast to that of the individual building components, both the stability and electrochemical activity of heterometallic nanostructured material were remarkably enhanced, resulting in a magnificent electrochemical performance of the developed material. Hence, the current work reports a comprehensive synthetic approach for MWCNTs@KR-6/Mn/Sn/Pb synthesis by synergizing unique properties of the heterometallic complex with MWCNTs. This work also offers a new insight into the design of multifunctional carbon-based materials for discrimination of different analytes on the basis of their redox potential.

Ligand engineering to achieve synergistic properties in a 2D bilayer supertetrahedral chalcogenide cluster-based assembled material

Incorporating functional organic linkers into supertetrahedral chalcogenolate cluster-based materials is an effective synthetic strategy to expand structural diversity and generate tunable optical and photoelectric properties arising from synergistic effects. Herein, a mixed ligand engineering approach was adopted to design a supertetrahedral cluster-based assembled material [(Cd6Ag4(SPh)16(TPPA)(BPE)0.5)·2DMF]n (denoted as SCCAM-3) with a 2D bilayer architecture and broader visible-light absorption. Interestingly, SCCAM-3 demonstrates a long-lived afterglow at 83 K and efficient photocatalytic activity for degrading tetracycline in water.

Green and Red Photoluminescent Manganese Bromides with Aminomethylpyridine Isomers

Two positional isomers, 4-amino-3-methylpyridine and 3-amino-5-methylpyridine, produce 4-amino-3-methylpyridinium and 5-methylpyridin-3-aminium, respectively, under acidic conditions. The two protonated isomers create different hydrogen bonding networks, resulting in different coordination environments of the [MnX₄]^2- unit embedded in molecular compounds such as 4-amino-3-methylpyridinium manganese bromide, [(C₆H₉N₂)₂MnBr₄] and 5-methylpyridin-3-aminium manganese bromide, [(C₆H₉N₂)₄MnBr₄(H₂O)·(MnBr₄)]. Both compounds can be prepared using the slow evaporation method or mechanochemical synthetic procedures. Single-crystal structure analysis of [(C₆H₉N₂)₂MnBr₄] and [(C₆H₉N₂)₄MnBr₄(H₂O)·(MnBr₄)] revealed different manganese halide units, including tetrahedral and tetrahedral with distorted trigonal bipyramidal structures, which emit photoluminescence in the green (527 nm) and red (607 nm) regions, respectively. Electronic structure calculations were conducted to support the validity and interpretation of the UV-vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectral data. Thin films deposited using the [(C₆H₉N₂)₂MnBr₄] precursor also exhibit PL properties. The diverse pseudo-three-dimensional networks can be constructed by using positional isomers with different hydrogen bonding pathways and π-π stacking of organic units, in which the design strategy successfully enables the tuning of various optical properties.

Bifunctional Supertetrahedral Chalcogenolate Cluster-Based Assembly Materials Constructed by a Photoactive Ligand

The assembly of supertetrahedral chalcogenolate clusters (SCCs) and multifunctional organic linkers could lead to the formation of tunable structures and synergistic properties. Two SCC-based assembled materials (SCCAM-1 and -2) constructed by a triangular chromophore ligand, tris(4-pyridylphenyl)amine, were successfully synthesized and characterized. The SCCAMs demonstrate unusually long-lived afterglow at low temperatures (83 K) and efficient activities for the photocatalytic degradation of organic dye in water.

Mechanistic insights into Ag+ induced size-growth from [Au6(DPPP)4]2+ to [Au7(DPPP)4]2+ clusters

The size conversion of atomically precise metal nanoclusters lays the foundation to elucidate the inherent structure-activity correlations on the nanometer scale. Herein, the mechanism of the Ag+-induced size growth from [Au6(dppp)4]2+ to [Au7(dppp)4]3+ (dppp is short for 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane) is studied via density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In the absence of extra Au sources, the one "Au+" addition was found to be regulated by the Ag+ doping induced Au-activation, i.e., the formation of formal Au(i) blocks via the Ag+ alloying processes. The Au(i) blocks could be extruded from the core structure in the formed Au-Ag alloy clusters, triggering a facile Au+ migration to the Au6 precursor to form the Au7 product. This study sheds light on the structural and stability changes of gold nanoclusters upon the addition of Ag+ and will hopefully benefit the development of more metal ion-induced size-conversion of metal nanoclusters.

Doping Mn2+in hybrid Ruddlesden-Popper phase of layered double perovskite (BA)4AgBiBr8

The layered hybrid double perovskites emerged as excellent semiconductor materials owing to their environment compatibility and stability. However, these materials are weakly luminescent, and their photoluminescence (PL) properties can be modulated via doping. While Mn²⁺doping in perovskites is well known, but to the best of our knowledge the doping of Mn²⁺in layered double perovskites (LDPs) is yet to be explored. Herein, for the first time, we demonstrate the doping of Mn²⁺in hybrid inorganic-organic two-dimensional (2D) LDPs, (BA)₄AgBiBr₈(BA = n-butyl amine) via a simple solid-state mechanochemical route. The powder x-ray diffraction pattern, and electron paramagnetic resonance analysis confirm the successful incorporation of Mn²⁺ions inside (BA)₄AgBiBr₈lattice. The Mn²⁺doped 2D LDP shows energy transfer from host excitons to d-electrons of Mn²⁺ions, which results in red-shifted broad Mn²⁺emission band centered at 625 nm, attributed to thespin-forbidden⁴T₁to⁶A₁internal transition. This work opens up new possibilities to dope metal ions in 2D LDPs to tune the optical as well as magnetic properties.

Cesium Manganese Bromide Nanocrystal Sensitizers for Broadband Vis-to-NIR Downshifting

Simultaneously achieving both broad absorption and sharp emission in the near-infrared (NIR) is challenging. Coupling of an efficient absorber such as lead halide perovskites to lanthanide emissive species is a promising way to meet the demands for visible-to-NIR spectral conversion. However, lead-based perovskite sensitizers suffer from relatively narrow absorption in the visible range, poor stability, and toxicity. Herein, we introduce a downshifting configuration based on lead-free cesium manganese bromide nanocrystals acting as broad visible absorbers coupled to sharp emission in the NIR-I and NIR-II spectral regions. To achieve this, we synthesized CsMnBr₃ and Cs₃MnBr₅ nanocrystals and attempted to dope them with a series of lanthanides, achieving success only with CsMnBr₃. The correlation of the lanthanide emission to the CsMnBr₃ visible absorption was confirmed with steady-state excitation spectra and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements, whereas the mechanism of downconversion from the CsMnBr₃ matrix to the lanthanides was understood by density functional theory calculations. This study shows that lead-free metal halides with an appropriate phase are effective sensitizers for lanthanides and offer a route to efficient downshifting applications.

Phase-selective synthesis of lead-free CsMnBr3 and Cs3MnBr5 nanocrystals dependent on solvent concentration

We demonstrate the crystal phase-selective synthesis for lead-free cesium manganese bromine perovskite nanocrystals synthesized by the modified hot-injection method due to changing the concentration of solvent (trioctylphosphine; TOP). The compositions synthesized were determined by the amount of TOP solvent, and the structure phase of the nanocrystals was selected from hexagonal CsMnBr₃ to tetragonal Cs₃MnBr₅ as the amount of TOP solvent increased. The emission peaks of CsMnBr₃ and Cs₃MnBr₅ nanocrystals were observed at 650 nm (red) and 520 nm (green), respectively. After a durability test at 85°C and 85% humidity for 24 h, the lead-free perovskite CsMnBr₃ nanocrystal powder maintained its initial emission intensity, and the metal halide Cs₃MnBr₅ nanocrystal powder exhibited an increase in red emission due to the post-synthesis of CsMnBr₃ nanocrystals.

Optical Properties of Mn-Doped CuGa(In)S-ZnS Nanocrystals (NCs): Effects of Host NC and Mn Concentration

Time-gated fluorescence measurement (TGFM) using long-life fluorescence probes is a highly sensitive fluorescence-measurement technology due to the inherently high signal-to-background ratio. Although many probes for TGFM such as luminescent-metal-complex probes and lanthanide-doped nanoparticles are in development, they generally need sophisticated/expensive instruments for biosensing/imaging applications. Probes possessing high brightness, low-energy (visible light) excitation, and long lifetimes up to milliseconds of luminescence, are highly desired in order to simplify the optical and electronic design of time-gated instruments (e.g., adopting non-UV-grade optics or low-speed electronics), lower the instrument complexity and cost, and facilitate broader applications of TGFM. In this work, we developed Mn-doped CuGa(In)S-ZnS nanocrystals (NCs) using simple and standard synthetic steps to achieve all the desired optical features in order to investigate how the optical properties (fluorescence/absorption spectra, brightness, and lifetimes) of the Mn-doped NCs are affected by different host NCs and Mn concentrations in host NCs. With optimal synthetic conditions, a library of Mn-doped NCs was achieved that possessed high brightness (up to 47% quantum yield), low-energy excitation (by 405 nm visible light), and long lifetimes (up to 3.67 ms). Additionally, the time-domain fluorescence characteristics of optimal Mn-doped NCs were measured under pulsed 405 nm laser excitation and bandpass-filter-based emission collection. The measurement results indicate the feasibility of these optimal Mn-doped NCs in TGFM-based biosensing/imaging.

Modification of metallic and non-metallic sites in pentasupertetrahedral chalcogenidometalate clusters for third-order nonlinear optical response

Four isomorphic P2 chalcogenide clusters named [Sn₁₁In₉Cu₆S₄₄]·11(H⁺DBU) (1) (DBU = 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0] undec-7-ene), [Sn₁₀In₁₀Cu₆Se₄₄]·6(H₂²⁺DMAPA)·2(DMAPA)·9EG (2) (DMAPA = 3-dimethylaminopropylamine, EG = ethylene glycol), [Sn₁₀In₁₀Cu₆S₄₀O₄]·6[H₂²⁺PMDETA]·10EG (3) (PMDETA = pentamethyldiethylenetriamine), [Sn₁₀Ga₁₀Cu₆S₄₀O₄]·6(H₂²⁺DMAPA)·7EG (4) have been isolated via organotin precursor and mixed-metal strategy. These clusters exhibit excellent solubility in organic solvents. The continuous-regulation of optical band and optical limiting performance have been realized through precise controlled substituting engineering of cationic and anionic elements.

New crystalline 1D/2D/3D indium selenides directed by piperidine and auxiliary solvents

The construction of cluster-based crystalline chalcogenide structures through the traditional solvothermal method relies on synergistic control of precursors, template cations and auxiliary solvents. Generally, the combination of metal precursors plays a crucial role in controlling the size of clusters, while organic templates and auxiliary solvents usually contribute to the type of clusters and architecture of the framework. Decades of synthetic efforts have been mainly devoted to expanding organic amine templates for constructing new structures. However, the important role of auxiliary solvents in enriching the chalcogenide family is usually disregarded. Reported here are several new crystalline In-Se compounds (ISP-1 to 4) with different dimensions, obtained by elaborately regulating auxiliary solvents under the direction of the same organic template, piperidine. Of these four structures, ISP-1 is constructed by irregular supertetrahedral clusters, giving a novel 2D structure with a corner-shared single Se atom and In₂Se₃ five-member ring as linkers; ISP-2 has a 1D structure composed by interlinked In₂Se₃ five-member rings; ISP-4 is constructed by supertetrahedral T2 clusters exhibiting an uncommon zeolite-like mog network.

Atomically precise metal chalcogenide supertetrahedral clusters: frameworks to molecules, and structure to function

Metal chalcogenide supertetrahedral clusters (MCSCs) are of significance for developing crystalline porous framework materials and atomically precise cluster chemistry. Early research interest focused on the synthetic and structural chemistry of MCSC-based porous semiconductor materials with different cluster sizes/compositions and their applications in adsorption-based separation and optoelectronics. More recently, focus has shifted to the cluster chemistry of MCSCs to establish atomically precise structure-composition-property relationships, which are critical for regulating the properties and expanding the applications of MCSCs. Importantly, MCSCs are similar to II-VI or I-III-VI semiconductor nanocrystals (also called quantum dots, QDs) but avoid their inherent size polydispersity and structural ambiguity. Thus, discrete MCSCs, especially those that are solution-processable, could provide models for understanding various issues that cannot be easily clarified using QDs. This review covers three decades of efforts on MCSCs, including advancements in MCSC-based open frameworks (reticular chemistry), the precise structure-property relationships of MCSCs (cluster chemistry), and the functionalization and applications of MCSC-based microcrystals. An outlook on remaining problems to be solved and future trends is also presented.

Mn-Doped AgZnInS/ZnS Nanocrystals (NCs): Effects of Zn Etching on the NC Optical Properties

Mn-doped I(II)-III-VI NCs (e.g., Mn-doped AgZnInS/ZnS NCs) possessing low-energy excitation, high brightness and long fluorescence lifetimes have been desired for time-gated fluorescence biosensing/imaging. In this type of NCs, their optical properties are significantly affected by the microscopic interactions between Mn and Mn and between Mn and host NC, the compositions of NCs, and the defects in NCs. On the other hand, it is known that Zn etching to core I(II)-III-VI NCs in NC synthesis can significantly enhance the NC brightness because Zn can exchange surface atoms (e.g., Ag and In) in NCs to minimize NC surface-defects. But for Mn-doped I(II)-III-VI NCs, Zn etching could etch out not only surface-atoms of host NCs (e.g., Ag and In) but also Mn in NCs. As a result, it could significantly affect the NC compositions and the microscopic interactions between Mn and Mn as well as between Mn and host NC, and thus the optical properties of NCs (like lifetime and absorption/emission spectra). Therefore, it is needed to investigate how Zn etching would affect the optical properties of such Mn-doped NCs. In this study, a series of Mn-doped AgZnInS NCs with different Mn doping levels were prepared through nucleation doping, and then Zn etching was applied to etch these core NCs. To identify the effects of Zn etching on NC optical properties, ZnS coating (a different ZnS shelling approach by injecting Zn precursor and S precursor alternately in synthesis) was performed on the same Mn:AgZnInS NCs, and the optical properties of NCs with these two different ZnS shelling approaches were compared. Experimental results showed that under appropriate Mn doping levels in synthesis, Zn etching instead of ZnS coating can produce low-energy excitable NCs with higher QYs and longer lifetimes, which would further facilitate the use of such NCs in time-gated fluorescence measurement. To understand the reasons for the different optical properties under different ZnS shelling approaches, the material characteristics of the prepared NCs were further measured/analyzed and the possible fluorescence mechanisms were discussed.

Cationic complex directed thiostannate layers with excellent proton conduction and photocatalysis properties

Three isostructural thiostannates SnS-M (M = Fe, Mn and Zn) have been fabricated using metal-amine complex cations as structure-directing agents. These thiostannates are composed of typical two-dimensional lamellar [Sn3S7]n2n- anionic...

Power-Dependent Photoluminescence Efficiency in Manganese-Doped 2D Hybrid Perovskite Nanoplatelets

Substitutional metal doping is a powerful strategy for manipulating the emission spectra and excited state dynamics of semiconductor nanomaterials. Here, we demonstrate the synthesis of colloidal manganese (Mn²⁺)-doped organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite nanoplatelets (chemical formula: L₂[APb_1-xMn_xBr₃]_n-1Pb_1-xMn_xBr₄; L, butylammonium; A, methylammonium or formamidinium; n (= 1 or 2), number of Pb_1-xMn_xBr₆^4- octahedral layers in thickness) via a ligand-assisted reprecipitation method. Substitutional doping of manganese for lead introduces bright (approaching 100% efficiency) and long-lived (>500 μs) midgap Mn²⁺ atomic states, and the doped nanoplatelets exhibit dual emission from both the band edge and the dopant state. Photoluminescence quantum yields and band-edge-to-Mn intensity ratios exhibit strong excitation power dependence, even at a very low incident intensity (<100 μW/cm²). Surprisingly, we find that the saturation of long-lived Mn²⁺ dopant sites cannot explain our observation. Instead, we propose an alternative mechanism involving the cross-relaxation of long-lived Mn-site excitations by freely diffusing band-edge excitons. We formulate a kinetic model based on this cross-relaxation mechanism that quantitatively reproduces all of the experimental observations and validate the model using time-resolved absorption and emission spectroscopy. Finally, we extract a concentration-normalized microscopic rate constant for band edge-to-dopant excitation transfer that is ∼10× faster in methylammonium-containing nanoplatelets than in formamidinium-containing nanoplatelets. This work provides fundamental insight into the interaction of mobile band edge excitons with localized dopant sites in 2D semiconductors and expands the toolbox for manipulating light emission in perovskite nanomaterials.

Consolidation of 2D Frameworks Based on Corner-Shared Supertetrahedral T5 Clusters via M2OS2 Units for Tunable Photoluminescent and Semiconductor Properties

Introducing transition metals into the intercluster linkers has been considered an important strategy for the rapid development of metal chalcogenide supertetrahedral (Tn) cluster-based open frameworks with excellent properties. However, using this strategy for achieving the structure and property tunability in the cluster-based framework of Tn (n ≥ 5) is still a great challenge. Herein, we report on three new sulfide and oxosulfide open frameworks of T5 clusters, i.e., T5-ZnMnInOS ([In₃₀Zn₅Mn₄O₂S₅₈]^12-), T5-MnInOS ([In₃₄Mn₅O₂S₅₈]^8-), and T5-MnInS ([In₂₈Mn₆S₅₄]^12-). Interestingly, transition metals Zn and Mn are successfully introduced into T5-ZnMnInOS and T5-MnInOS via the consolidation of corner-shared Zn₂OS₂ and Mn₂OS₂ units, respectively. Under the photoexcitation of UV light, three compounds can emit bright-orange-red light closely associated with the Mn²⁺ ions, and the compounds containing M₂OS₂ units exhibit better photoluminescence (PL) lifetimes. Variable-temperature PL spectra demonstrate that the introduced M₂OS₂ units are favorable for weakening the deformation of the skeleton structure and decreasing the red shifts of the emission peaks at low temperatures. Moreover, the experimental results exhibit that the three compounds are wide-band-gap semiconductors and that the photogenerated electron separation efficiency can be doubly increased because the intercluster linkers are fixed by the M₂OS₂ units. This work paves a new way for enriching the content and distribution types of transition-metal sites in the supertetrahedral cluster-based metal chalcogenide open frameworks.

Precise incorporation of transition metals into organolead oxyhalide crystalline materials for photocatalysis

Organolead halide crystalline materials are an emerging class of high-performance photocatalysts. However, limited studies have been performed to tune their photoactive properties by precise introduction of transition metals. Herein, we report the successful incorporation of four different transition metal centers (Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺) into a lead oxyhalide crystalline matrix via isoreticular synthesis. Importantly, the precise control of the incoming transition metal positions has been achieved by its octahedral coordination with three organic ligands. Among them, the Zn²⁺-incorporated material exhibits the highest catalytic activity and recyclable activity in benzylamine oxidation under UV light, which is probably ascribed to the long carrier lifetime and efficient carrier transfer.

Lead-free Mn-doped antimony halide perovskite quantum dots with bright deep-red emission

We reported the first synthesis of Mn2+ doped Cs3Sb2Clx/Br9-x (0 ≤ x ≤ 9) perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) by regulating the coprecipitation of Mn2+ and Sb3+ with thiol ligands. These lead-free PQDs demonstrated bright photoluminescence emission centered at 660 nm and a high quantum yield of ∼49%, making them suitable for optical applications.

Interplay between Chemical Transformations and Atomic Structure in Nanocrystals and Nanoclusters

ConspectusChemically induced transformations are postsynthetic processing reactions applied to first generation (as-synthesized) nanomaterials to modify property-defining factors such as atomic structure, chemical composition, surface chemistry, and/or morphology. Compared with conditions for direct synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals, postsynthetic chemical transformations can be conducted in relatively mild conditions with a more controllable process, which makes them suitable for the precise manipulation of nanomaterials and for trapping metastable phases that are typically inaccessible from the conventional synthetic routes. Each of the chemically induced transformations methods can result in substantial restructuring of the atomic structure, but their transformation pathways can be very different. And the converse is also true: the atomic structure of the parent material plays a large role in the pathway toward and the resulting chemically transformed product. Additionally, the characteristic length of the parent material greatly affects the structure, which affects the outcome of the reaction.In this Account, we show how the atomic structure and nanoscale size directs the product formation into materials that are inaccessible from analogous chemically transformations in bulk materials. Through examples from the three chemical transformation processes (cation/anion exchange, redox reactions, and ligand exchange and ligand etching), the effect of the atomic structure on chemical transformations is made apparent, and vice versa. For cation exchange, an anisotropic atomic lattice results in a unidirectional exchange boundary. And because the interface can extend through the full crystal, a substantial strain field can form, influencing the phase of the material. In the redox reaction that leads to the nanoscale Kirkendall effect, the atomic structure is the key to inverting the diffusion rates in a diffusion couple to form the hollow cores. And for ligand etching, if one of the materials in a heterostructure has a defected and\or defect-tolerant atomic structure, it can be preferentially etched and its atomic structure can undergo phase transformations while the other composition remains intact. For length scales, we show how the chemically induced transformations greatly differ between bulk, nanocrystal, and nanocluster characteristic sizes. For instance, the structural transformation on relatively large nanocrystals (2-100 nm) can be a continuous process when the activation volume is smaller than the nanocrystal, while for smaller nanoclusters (<2 nm) the transformation kinetics could be swift resulting in only discrete thermodynamic states. Comparing the two nanosystems (nanocrystals to small nanoclusters), we address how their atomic structural differences can direct the divergent transformation phenomena and the corresponding mechanisms. Understanding the nanoscale mechanisms of chemically induced transformations and how they differ from bulk processes is key to unlocking new science and for implementing this processing for functional materials.

Efficient Emission in Halide Layered Double Perovskites: The Role of Sb3+ Substitution in Cs4Cd1-xMnxBi2Cl12 Phosphors

Layered double perovskites have the potential to further expand the vast space of optoelectronic properties and applications of halide perovskites. Among the ∼60 known members, to date only the ⟨111⟩-oriented layered double perovskites, Cs₄Cd_1-xMn_xBi₂Cl₁₂, have shown efficient photoluminescence (PL). The replacement of Bi with Sb in these materials was investigated, resulting in two new families of layered inorganic perovskite alloys with full solubility. The first, Cs₄Cd_1-xMn_xSb₂Cl₁₂, exhibits a PL emission at 605 nm ascribed to Mn²⁺ centers, with a maximum quantum yield of 28.5%. The second, Cs₄Cd_0.8Mn_0.2(Sb_1-yBi_y)₂Cl₁₂, contains a fixed amount of Mn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ but variable Sb³⁺ and Bi³⁺ concentrations. We observed a decreased efficiency of the Cs₄Cd_1-xMn_xSb₂Cl₁₂ family compared to that of Cs₄Cd_1-xMn_xBi₂Cl₁₂, which was attributed to a decreased spin-orbit and Jahn-Teller couplings in Sb and the subsequent increased electronic delocalization. The present work lays out a roadmap to achieve high photoluminescence efficiencies in layered double perovskites.

Synthesis, crystal structure and luminescence properties of a new samarium borate phosphate, CsNa2Sm2(BO3)(PO4)2

A new caesium sodium samarium borate phosphate, CsNa₂Sm₂(BO₃)(PO₄)₂, has been obtained successfully by the high-temperature solution growth (HTSG) method and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that it crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm. The structure contains BO₃, PO₄, NaO₇ and SmO₇ polyhedra which are interconnected via corner- or edge-sharing O atoms to form a three-dimensional [Na₂Sm₂(BO₃)(PO₄)₂]_∞ network. This network delimits large cavities where large Cs⁺ cations reside to form the total structure. Under 402 nm light excitation, CsNa₂Sm₂(BO₃)(PO₄)₂ exhibits three emission bands due to the 4f→4f transitions of Sm³⁺. Furthermore, we introduced Gd³⁺ into Sm³⁺ sites to optimize the Sm³⁺ concentration and improve the luminescence intensity. The optimal concentration is Gd/Sm = 98/2. The luminescent lifetime of a series of CsNa₂Gd_2(1-x)Sm_2x(BO₃)(PO₄)₂ phosphors shows a gradual degradation of lifetime from 2.196 to 0.872 ms for x = 0.01-0.10. The Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) 1931 calculation reveals that CsNa₂Gd_1.96Sm_0.04(BO₃)(PO₄)₂ can emit orange light under 402 nm excitation.

Discrete Supertetrahedral Tn Chalcogenido Clusters Synthesized in Ionic Liquids: Crystal Structures and Photocatalytic Activity

Discrete supertetrahedral Tn chalcogenido clusters, which can be regarded as the smallest semiconductor quantum dots with precise chemical composition, have attracted considerable attention due to their outstanding photoluminescent, photoelectric, and photo/electrocatalytic properties. Such discrete molecular clusters are suitable for solution processing towards functional materials and can be used as precursors for constructing open-framework chalcogenides. Traditionally they were synthesized hydro(solvo)thermally with molecular solvents (e. g. water or organic amines), while until recently imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) were found suitable for their preparation acting as reactive solvent and stabilizer for molecular clusters. We discuss herein recent advances in the syntheses, crystal structures, and selected properties of discrete supertetrahedral Tn chalcogenido clusters obtained in ILs. In particular, the enhanced photocatalytic properties of monodispersed Tn clusters in solvents are highlighted.

Metal Chalcogenide Supertetrahedral Clusters: Synthetic Control over Assembly, Dispersibility, and Their Functional Applications

ConspectusMetal chalcogenide supertetrahedral clusters (MCSCs) bear the closest structural resemblance to II-VI or I-III-VI semiconductor nanocrystals and can be considered as well-defined ultrasmall "quantum dots" (QDs). Compared to traditional colloidal QDs that are typically associated with size dispersity, irregular surface atomic structures, poorly defined core-ligand interfaces, and random defect/dopant sites, the nano- or subnano-sized MCSCs feature precise structural properties such as atomically uniform size, precise structure, and ordered dopant distribution, all of which offer ample opportunities for a broad and in-depth understanding of the correlation between the precise local structure and site- or size-dependent properties, which are critical to the exploitation of their functional applications. Our previous Account in 2005 provided a narrative on the efforts to expand the structural diversity of open-framework materials using different-sized and compositionally tunable clusters as building blocks with a primary objective of integrating the semiconducting properties with porosity in zeolite-type solids. Over the past 15 years, significant progress has been made, particularly in the synthetic control of discrete clusters, allowing the establishment of the composition-structure-property correlation of the MCSCs to guide the optimization of their properties for various applications. In the present Account, the recent progress in MCSC-based chemistry is reviewed from three aspects: (1) controllable synthesis of new members and types of MCSC models and the development of organic-ligand-directed hybrid assembly modes for MCSC-based open frameworks; (2) new synthetic strategies for the discretization of MCSCs in crystal lattice and their dispersibility in solvents, affording practical applications of pure inorganic MCSCs as nanomaterials; and (3) functionality of MCSC-based materials including photochemical and electrochemical properties triggered by precise dopant/defect sites, open-framework-related functional expansion via host-guest chemistry, and dispersed cluster-based composite materials with synergy from functional multimetallic components. All these advances show that MCSCs with well-defined structures and atomically precise dopant/defect sites are powerful model systems for establishing the precise structure-composition-property correlation and understanding the photophysical dynamic behaviors, both of which are difficult or impossible to achieve in the traditional QD system. Perspectives on their potential applications are presented in terms of the amorphous assemblies of monodispersed MCSCs, MCSC-based two-dimensional layered materials, and optical/electronic devices.

Direct observation of charge transfer between molecular heterojunctions based on inorganic semiconductor clusters

A deep understanding of the dynamics of photogenerated charge carriers is extremely important for promoting their germination in semiconductors to enhance the efficiency of solar energy conversion. In contrast to that of organic molecular heterojunctions (which are widely employed in organic solar cells), the charge transfer dynamics of purely inorganic molecular heterojunctions remains unexplored. Herein, we reveal the dynamics of charge transfer between inorganic semiconductor molecular heteroclusters by selecting a group of open-framework metal chalcogenides as unique structure models constructed from supertetrahedral T3-InS ([In₁₀S₂₀]) and T4-MInS ([M₄In₁₆S₃₅], M = Mn or Fe) clusters. The staggered band gap alignment in T3-T4-MInS molecular heterojunctions enables the photogenerated charge carriers to be directionally transferred from T3-InS clusters to adjacent T4-MInS clusters upon irradiation or application of an external electric field. The simultaneous independence of and interactions between such two heteroclusters are investigated by theoretical calculations, steady- and transient-state absorption/photoluminescence spectroscopy, and surface photovoltage analysis. Moreover, the dynamics of cluster-to-cluster-to-dopant photogenerated charge transfer is deliberately elucidated. Thus, this work demonstrates the direct observation of charge transfer between molecular heterojunctions based on purely inorganic semiconductor clusters and is expected to promote the development of cluster-based semiconductors for solar cells.

Charge transfer between inter-clusters is directly observed in inorganic molecular heterojunctions.

Discrete Supertetrahedral T5 Selenide Clusters and Their Se/S Solid Solutions: Ionic-Liquid-Assisted Precursor Route Syntheses and Photocatalytic Properties

Although supertetrahedral Tn sulfide clusters (n=2-6) have been extensively explored, the synthesis of Tn selenide clusters with n>4 has not been achieved thus far. Reported here are ionic-liquid (IL)-assisted precursor route syntheses, characterizations, and the photocatalytic properties of six new M-In-Q (M=Cu or Cd; Q=Se or Se/S) chalcogenide compounds, namely [Bmmim]₁₂ Cu₅ In₃₀ Q₅₂ Cl₃ (Im) (Q=Se (T5-1), Se_48.5 S_3.5 (T5-2); Bmmim=1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium, Im=imidazole), [Bmmim]₁₁ Cd₆ In₂₈ Q₅₂ Cl₃ (MIm) (Q=Se (T5-3), Se_28.5 S_23.5 (T5-4), Se₁₆ S₃₆ (T5-5); MIm=1-methylimidazole), and [Bmmim]₉ Cd₆ In₂₈ Se₈ S₄₄ Cl(MIm)₃ (T5-6). The cluster compounds T5-1 and T5-3 represent the largest molecular supertetrahedral Tn selenide clusters to date. Under visible-light illumination, the Cu-In-Q compounds showed photocatalytic activity towards the decomposition of crystal violet, whereas the Cd-In-Q compounds exhibited good photocatalytic H₂ evolution activity. Interestingly, the experimental results show that the photocatalytic performances of the selenide/sulfide solid solutions were significantly better than those of their selenide analogues, for example, the degradation time of the organic dye with T5-2 was much shorter than that with T5-1, whereas the photocatalytic H₂ evolution efficiencies with T5-3-T5-6 improved significantly with increasing sulfur content. This work highlights the significance of IL-assisted precursor route synthesis and the tuning of photocatalytic properties through the formation of solid solutions.

Controllable incorporation of 1,2,4-triazolate into cluster-based metal-chalcogenide frameworks

1,2,4-Triazolate is controllably incorporated into cluster-based metal-chalcogenide frameworks by adjusting the coordination competition between organic and inorganic species.

Tetrahedral photoluminescent manganese(ii) halide complexes with 1,3-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,3-diazaphospholidine-2-oxide as a ligand

Photoluminescent Mn(ii) tetrahedral complexes characterized by intense emission in the green region were isolated from the reaction of MnX₂ (X = Cl, Br, I) and the ligand 1,3-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,3-diazaphospholidine-2-oxide.

A quasi-D3-symmetrical metal chalcogenide cluster constructed by the corner-sharing of two T3 supertetrahedra

The third type of a discrete cluster of metal chalcogenide was successfully prepared by selecting the organic base with strong alkaline and weak solvation. This work further enriches the structure chemistry of discrete supertetrahedral clusters.

Energetic hot electrons from exciton-to-hot electron upconversion in Mn-doped semiconductor nanocrystals

Generation of hot electrons and their utilization in photoinduced chemical processes have been the subjects of intense research in recent years mostly exploring hot electrons in plasmonic metal nanostructures created via decay of optically excited plasmon. Here, we present recent progress made in generation and utilization of a different type of hot electrons produced via biphotonic exciton-to-hot electron "upconversion" in Mn-doped semiconductor nanocrystals. Compared to the plasmonic hot electrons, those produced via biphotonic upconversion in Mn-doped semiconductor nanocrystals possess much higher energy, enabling more efficient long-range electron transfer across the high energy barrier. They can even be ejected above the vacuum level creating photoelectrons, which can possibly produce solvated electrons. Despite the biphotonic nature of the upconversion process, hot electrons can be generated with weak cw excitation equivalent to the concentrated solar radiation without requiring intense or high-energy photons. This perspective reviews recent work elucidating the mechanism of generating energetic hot electrons in Mn-doped semiconductor nanocrystals, detection of these hot electrons as photocurrent or photoelectron emission, and their utilization in chemical processes such as photocatalysis. New opportunities that the energetic hot electrons can open by creating solvated electrons, which can be viewed as the longer-lived and mobile version of hot electrons more useful for chemical processes, and the challenges in practical utilization of energetic hot electrons are also discussed.

A wide pH-range stable crystalline framework based on the largest tin-oxysulfide cluster [Sn20O10S34]

We report, herein, a diamond-like oxysulfide framework, 3D-T4-SnOS, based on the largest supertetrahedral cluster of Sn⁴⁺ ions, i.e. [Sn₂₀O₁₀S₃₄]. The framework remains intact in aqueous solution over a pH range between 1 and 14, and has a narrower optical bandgap, red-shifted fluorescence emission, and an enhanced photoelectric response compared to that of the smaller version, 2D-T3-SnOS, which has a building unit of supertetrahedral [Sn₁₀O₄S₂₀].

Long-lived Photon Upconversion Phosphorescence in RbCaF3:Mn2+,Yb3+ and the Dynamic Color Separation Effect

The development of luminescence materials with long-lived upconversion (UC) phosphorescence and long luminescence rise edge (LRE) is a great challenge to advance the technology of photonics and materials sciences. The lanthanide ions-doped UC materials normally possess limited UC lifetime and short LRE, restricting direct afterglow viewing in visual images by the naked eye. Here, we show that the RbCaF₃:Mn²⁺,Yb³⁺ UC luminescence material generates a long UC lifetime of ∼62 ms peaking at 565 nm and an ultralong LRE of ∼5.2 ms. Density functional theory calculations provide a theoretical understanding of the Mn²⁺-Yb³⁺ aggregation in the high-symmetry RbCaF₃ host lattice that enables the formation of the long-lived UC emission center, superexchange coupled Yb³⁺-Mn²⁺ pair. Through screen printing ink containing RbCaF₃:Mn²⁺,Yb³⁺, the visualized multiple anti-counterfeiting application and information encryption prototype with high-throughput rate of authentication and decryption are demonstrated by the dynamic color separation effect.

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Photon upconversion phosphorescence material RbCaF₃:Mn²⁺,Yb³⁺ is developed

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The UC emission center in RbCaF₃:Mn²⁺,Yb³⁺ is ascribed to the Yb³⁺-Mn²⁺ pair

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A multiple anti-counterfeiting prototype based on the RbCaF₃:Mn²⁺,Yb³⁺ is demonstrated

Tunable Emission Properties of Manganese Chloride Small Single Crystals by Pyridine Incorporation

Pure transition-metal compounds seldom produce luminescence because of electron correlation and spin-spin coupling. The Pb-free perovskite materials, C₁₀H₁₂N₂MnCl₄ and C₅H₆NMnCl₃·H₂O, were obtained by using pyridine-implanted manganese chloride lattices. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction indicates their different crystal structures. In C₁₀H₁₂N₂MnCl₄, MnCl₄ cocoordinated with two pyridine molecules forms a lattice composed of independent mononuclear structures with paramagnetic behavior, which shows a clear emission band at 518 nm from the lowest d-d transition of a single Mn(II) ion in the octahedral crystal field. In C₅H₆NMnCl₅·H₂O crystal, MnCl₅·(H₂O) _x octahedron-cocoordinated with less pyridine molecules than 2 lead to formation arris-share linear chains of Mn-ion octahedra, which give emission band at 620 nm due to the ferromagnetic Mn pair, and ferromagnetism. Pyridine incorporations in the transition-metal halide lattice provide a new channel to modulate the electron correlation and obtain materials with both luminescence and ferromagnetic properties.

Ionic liquid cations as methylation agent for extremely weak chalcogenido metalate nucleophiles

Selective in situ methylation of terminal chalcogenide ligands of molecular chalcogenido metalate anions in ionothermal reactions with alkylimidazolium-based ionic liquids yields a series of organo-functionalized chalcogenido metalate compounds. We present the syntheses and crystal structures of (C₄C₁C₁Im)_4+x [Sn₁₀S₁₆O₄(SMe)₄][An] _x (1a-1f), (dmmpH)₆[Mn₄Sn₄Se₁₃(SeMe)₄] (2), and (C _n C₁Im)₆[Hg₆Te₁₀(TeMe)₂] (3a, 3b). The methylation was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, and the optical absorption properties of the methylated compounds were determined and compared to purely inorganic analogs.

Ionic organic cage-encapsulating phase-transferable metal clusters

Exploration of metal clusters (MCs) adaptive to both aqueous and oil phases without disturbing their size is promising for a broad scope of applications. The state-of-the-art approach via ligand-binding may perturb MCs' size due to varied metal-ligand binding strength when shuttling between solvents of different polarity. Herein, we applied physical confinement of a series of small noble MCs (<1 nm) inside ionic organic cages (I-Cages), which by means of anion exchange enables reversible transfer of MCs between aqueous and hydrophobic solutions without varying their ultrasmall size. Moreover, the MCs@I-Cage hybrid serves as a recyclable, reaction-switchable catalyst featuring high activity in liquid-phase NH3BH3 (AB) hydrolysis reaction with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 115 min-1.

Tailoring of structural and photoluminescence emissions by Mn and Cu co-doping in 2D nanostructures of ZnS for the visualization of latent fingerprints and generation of white light

There has been a recent demand for the development of luminescent materials for visualizations of latent fingerprints (LFPs) for achieving enhanced security. Also recently, there has been a new research trend in the development of 2D materials from non-layered semiconductors with strong luminescence properties in the visible region. The conventional growth process of luminescent materials limits their capacity of tuning the structure and light emission efficiency. However, multi-atom doping provides an additional degree of freedom to tune the basic morphologies and optical properties of luminescent semiconductors by controlling the defect levels. Here, by using a simple chemical technique, multi-atom (Cu and Mn) doped rarely reported 2D nanosheets of zinc sulphide (ZnS) have been grown. Thus, a stable high fluorescence efficiency of ∼62% in the visible region has been realized for the visualization of LFPs. Furthermore, near-white light emission has been demonstrated by coating the synthesized materials with a suitable doping concentration on a commercially available UV-LED chip. The proposed technique may be utilized further to build up other 2D nanostructured materials for multifunctional applications in solid state lighting, LFPs and forensic science.

Three-Dimensional Superlattices Based on Unusual Chalcogenide Supertetrahedral In-Sn-S Nanoclusters

Reported here are two novel metal chalcogenide superlattices built from unusual supertetrahedral TO2-InSnS clusters. With regard to only one previously reported case of a TO2-InS-based 2D-layered structure, such a combination of In-Sn-S components is thought to be reasonable for leading to the first observation of 3D superlattices based on TO2-InSnS clusters. Besides, these title semiconducting materials also display good performance on the electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction.

Three new metal chalcogenide open frameworks built through co-assembly and/or hybrid assembly from supertetrahedral T5-InOS and T3-InS nanoclusters

Reported here are three new metal chalcogenide open frameworks built from supertetrahedral T5-InOS (or o-T5) and T3-InS nanoclusters via co-assembly and/or hybrid assembly modes.

Efficient modulation of photoluminescence by hydrogen bonding interactions between inorganic [MnBr4]2- anions and organic cations

The different hydrogen bond interactions in two organic-inorganic hybrid manganese halide compounds, namely [A]2[MnBr4] (A = N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium ([P14]+) for (1) and N-butyl-N-methylpiperidinium ([PP14]+) for (2)), lead to distinct photoluminescence quantum yields (81% for 1; 55% for 2). Further applications of luminescent 1 are also developed.

Anti-Site Defects-Assisted Enhancement of Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence from in Situ Mn2+-Doped Supertetrahedral Chalcogenide Nanoclusters

Understanding and revealing the connection between defects and dopant for improving electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) efficiency remain a constant challenge. In this work, the in situ Mn²⁺-doped Mn_1.36Zn_5.64In₂₈S₅₆ supertetrahedral chalcogenide semiconductor nanoclusters (NCs) with an ECL efficiency as high as 27.1% was obtained, the corresponding ECL behaviors were investigated, and the vital role of more anti-site defects (ADs) introduced in situ on the ECL emission was elucidated. The ADs can not only give rise to the ECL emission peak at 494 nm but also assist transfer of electrons to induce and enhance the ECL emission at 627 nm from doped Mn²⁺ in the NCs. Furthermore, based on the fact that dissolved oxygen can enhance the ECL intensity, a highly sensitive ECL sensor for the determination of dissolved oxygen was developed. This insight into the fundamental interactions between Mn²⁺ dopants and defects in NC host may open new opportunities for the design of novel ECL materials to promote their application potential in electrochemical analysis and imaging.

Mn Doped AZIS/ZnS Nanocrystals (NCs): Effects of Ag and Mn Levels on NC Optical Properties

In this work, Mn-doped AZIS/ZnS NCs were prepared using a nucleation doping approach with the tuning of Mn and Ag levels in their synthesis. The optical properties of Mn:AZIS/ZnS NCs are found to be significantly affected by Ag and Mn levels. Specifically, more Ag and Mn atoms in Mn:AZIS/ZnS NCs cause their fluorescence red-shift, and as the Ag or Mn level reaches a high threshold, the fluorescence lifetime of Mn:AZIS/ZnS NC has a significant drop. The reasons for the effects of Mn and Ag levels on NC optical properties were explored and discussed. Through this study, it is also found that with certain Ag and Mn levels in synthesis, some Mn:AZIS/ZnS NCs present optimal optical properties including high brightness (QY > 40%), long fluorescence lifetime (> 1.2 ms), low energy for excitation (excitable at 405 nm), and no reabsorption. The feasibility of the optimized NCs for time-gated fluorescence measurement using a portable/compact instrument was further demonstrated, which indicates the application potential of the NCs in time-gated biosensing including point-of-care testing. Notably, this study also discloses that Mn:AZIS/ZnS NCs with different lifetimes can be achieved by tuning Mn and Ag levels in synthesis, which may further broaden the applications of Mn:AZIS/ZnS NCs in multiplexing detection/measurement.

Precise mono-Cu+ ion doping enhanced electrogenerated chemiluminescence from Cd-In-S supertetrahedral chalcogenide nanoclusters for dopamine detection

Herein, the ECL behaviors of precise mono-Cu+ ion doped Cd-In-S supertetrahedral chalcogenide nanoclusters (Cu@CdInS NCs) were investigated, and the effect of mono-Cu+ ions at the vacancy site of NCs on ECL emission performance was also elucidated. Precise mono-Cu+ ion doping not only induced new ECL emission at 596 nm with enhanced efficiency as high as 21.72% relative to [Ru(bpy)3]2+, but also improved acid tolerance of the ECL performances of NCs. In addition, a simple, fast and label-free dopamine ECL sensor with excellent selectivity was achieved.

Monodisperse Ultrasmall Manganese-Doped Multimetallic Oxysulfide Nanoparticles as Highly Efficient Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalyst

The highly efficient and cheap non-Pt-based electrocatalysts such as transition-based catalysts prepared via facile methods for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are desirable for large-scale practical industry applications in energy conversion and storage systems. Herein, we report a straightforward top-down synthesis of monodisperse ultrasmall manganese-doped multimetallic (ZnGe) oxysulfide nanoparticles (NPs) as an efficient ORR electrocatalyst by simple ultrasonic treatment of the Mn-doped Zn-Ge-S chalcogenidometalate crystal precursors in H₂O/EtOH for only 1 h at room temperature. Thus obtained ultrasmall monodisperse Mn-doped oxysulfide NPs with ultralow Mn loading level (3.92 wt %) not only exhibit comparable onset and half-wave potential (0.92 and 0.86 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode, respectively) to the commercial 20 wt % Pt/C but also exceptionally high metal mass activity (189 mA/mg at 0.8 V) and good methanol tolerance. A combination of transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemical analysis demonstrated that the homogenous distribution of a large amount of Mn(III) on the surface of NPs mainly accounts for the high ORR activity. We believe that this simple synthesis of Mn-doped multimetallic (ZnGe) oxysulfide NPs derived from chalcogenidometalates will open a new route to explore the utilization of discrete-cluster-based chalcogenidometalates as novel non-Pt electrocatalysts for energy applications and provide a facile way to realize the effective reduction of the amount of catalyst while keeping desired catalytic performances.