Structure and luminescence of DNA-templated silver clusters

DNA serves as a versatile template for few-atom silver clusters and their organized self-assembly. These clusters possess unique structural and photophysical properties that are programmed into the DNA template sequence, resulting in a rich palette of fluorophores which hold promise as chemical and biomolecular sensors, biolabels, and nanophotonic elements. Here, we review recent advances in the fundamental understanding of DNA-templated silver clusters (Ag N -DNAs), including the role played by the silver-mediated DNA complexes which are synthetic precursors to Ag N -DNAs, structure-property relations of Ag N -DNAs, and the excited state dynamics leading to fluorescence in these clusters. We also summarize the current understanding of how DNA sequence selects the properties of Ag N -DNAs and how sequence can be harnessed for informed design and for ordered multi-cluster assembly. To catalyze future research, we end with a discussion of several opportunities and challenges, both fundamental and applied, for the Ag N -DNA research community. A comprehensive fundamental understanding of this class of metal cluster fluorophores can provide the basis for rational design and for advancement of their applications in fluorescence-based sensing, biosciences, nanophotonics, and catalysis.

Collective Response in DNA-Stabilized Silver Cluster Assemblies from First-Principles Simulations

We investigate fluorescence resonant energy transfer and concurrent electron dynamics in a pair of DNA-stabilized silver clusters. For this purpose we introduce a methodology for the simulation of collective optoelectronic properties of coupled molecular aggregates starting from first-principles quantum chemistry, which can be further applied to a broad range of coupled molecular systems to study their electro-optical response. Our simulations reveal the existence of low-energy coupled excitonic states, which enable ultrafast energy transport between subunits, and give insight into the origin of the fluorescence signal in coupled DNA-stabilized silver clusters, which have been recently experimentally detected. Hence, we demonstrate the possibility of constructing ultrasmall energy transmission lines and optical converters based on these hybrid molecular systems.