Phase Transitions in Metal Clusters and Cluster Catalysts

Solid–liquid and liquid–solid transitions in metal nanoparticles

At the nanoscale, the activation energy of solidification is found equal to the latent heat of melting.

Effect of compartmentalization of donor and acceptor on the ultrafast resonance energy transfer from DAPI to silver nanoclusters

The mechanism and dynamics of excitation energy transfer (EET) from photo-excited 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) to silver nanoclusters (Ag NCs) and its subsequent modulation in the presence of cationic polymer poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and Calf Thymus DNA (CT-DNA) have been demonstrated using steady-state fluorescence and femtosecond fluorescence upconversion techniques. The synthesized Ag NCs were characterized using FTIR, mass spectrometry, XPS, HRTEM, DLS, UV-Vis and PL spectroscopy. Mass spectrometric analysis reveals the formation of ultrasmall Ag4 NCs with a small amount of Ag5 NCs. UV-Vis and PL spectra reveal distinct molecular-like optoelectronic behaviour of these ultrasmall Ag NCs. The dihydrolipoic acid-capped Ag NCs strongly quench the fluorescence of DAPI with concomitant increase in its photoluminescence (PL) intensity at 675 nm. This steady-state fluorescence quenching proceeds with a significant shortening of the fluorescence lifetime of DAPI in the presence of Ag NCs, signifying the nonradiative Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from DAPI to Ag NCs. Various energy transfer parameters have been estimated from FRET theory. The present FRET pair shows a characteristic Förster distance of 2.45 nm and can be utilized as a reporter of short-range distances in various FRET based applications. Moreover, this nonradiative FRET is completely suppressed in the presence of both 0.2 wt% PDADMAC and CT-DNA. Our results reveal selective compartmentalization of Ag NCs and DAPI in the presence of 0.2 wt% PDADMAC and CT-DNA, respectively. This selective compartmentalization of donor and acceptor and the subsequent modification of the FRET process may find application in various sensing, photovoltaic, and light harvesting applications.

Nanothermodynamics of metal nanoparticles

This article presents a perspective on thermodynamic characterization of metal nanoparticles by computational chemistry. Topics emphasized include structural stability, phases, phase changes, and free energy functions of aluminum nanoparticles.

Realizing Visible Photoactivity of Metal Nanoparticles: Excited-State Behavior and Electron-Transfer Properties of Silver (Ag8) Clusters

Silver nanoclusters complexed with dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) exhibit molecular-like excited-state properties with well-defined absorption and emission features. The 1.8 nm diameter Ag nanoparticles capped with Ag8 clusters exhibit fluorescence maximum at 660 nm with a quantum yield of 0.07%. Although the excited state is relatively short-lived (τ 130 ps), it exhibits significant photochemical reactivity. By introducing MV(2+) as a probe, we have succeeded in elucidating the interfacial electron transfer dynamics of Ag nanoclusters. The formation of MV(+•) as the electron-transfer product with a rate constant of 2.74 × 10(10) s(-1) confirms the ability of these metal clusters to participate in the photocatalytic reduction process. Basic understanding of excited-state processes in fluorescent metal clusters paves the way toward the development of biological probes, sensors, and catalysts in energy conversion devices.