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Wang C, Zhao H, Ge Z, Dong L, Han X, Balakrishna A, Balguri PK, Wang Y, Thumu U. Kinetically Controlled Synthesis of Highly Emissive Au 18SG 14 Clusters and Their Phase Transfer: Tips and Tricks. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:6884-6894. [PMID: 36844533 PMCID: PMC9948219 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c07663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Glutathione (GSH) protected gold nanoclusters (Au n SG m NCs) have been attractive because of their novel properties such as enhanced luminescence and band gap tunability at their quantum confinement region (below ∼2 nm). Initial synthetic routes of mixed-size clusters and size-based separation techniques had latter evolved toward atomically precise nanoclusters via thermodynamic and kinetic control routes. One such exemplary synthesis taking the advantages of a kinetically controlled approach is producing highly red-emissive Au18SG14 NCs (where SG = thiolate of glutathione), thanks to the slow reduction kinetics provided by the mild reducing agent NaBH3CN. Despite the developments in the direct synthesis of Au18SG14, several meticulous reaction conditions still need to be understood for the highly adaptable synthesis of atomically pure NCs irrespective of the laboratory conditions. Herein, we have systematically studied a series of reaction steps involved in this kinetically controlled approach starting from the role of the antisolvent, formation of precursors to Au-SG thiolates, growth of Au-SG thiolates as a function of aging time, and exploring an optimal reaction temperature to optimize the desired nucleation under slow reduction kinetics. The crucial parameters derived in our studies guide the successful and large-scale production of Au18SG14 at any laboratory condition. Next, we investigated the effect of pH on the NCs to study the stability and the best suitable condition for the phase transfer of Au18SG14 clusters. The commonly implemented method of phase transfer at the basic conditions (pH > 9) is not successful in this case. However, we developed a feasible method for the phase transfer by diluting the aqueous NC solution to enhance the negative charges on the NCs' surface by increasing the degree of dissociation at the carboxylic acid group. It is interesting to note that after the phase transfer, the Au18SG14-TOA NCs in toluene as well as in other organic solvents exhibited enhanced luminescence quantum yields from 9 to 3 times and increased average photoluminescence lifetimes by 1.5-2.5 times, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengjie Wang
- Institute
of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science
and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Hairong Zhao
- Institute
of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science
and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Zhongsheng Ge
- Institute
of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science
and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Lizhuang Dong
- Institute
of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science
and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Xiao Han
- Institute
of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science
and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Avula Balakrishna
- Institute
of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science
and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Praveen Kumar Balguri
- Department
of Aeronautical Engineering, Institute of
Aeronautical Engineering, Hyderabad 500043, India
| | - Yixi Wang
- Institute
of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science
and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Udayabhaskararao Thumu
- Institute
of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science
and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
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Wei J, MacLeod Carey D, Halet JF, Kahlal S, Saillard JY, Muñoz-Castro A. From 8- to 18-Cluster Electrons Superatoms: Evaluation via DFT Calculations of the Ligand-Protected W@Au 12(dppm) 6 Cluster Displaying Distinctive Electronic and Optical Properties. Inorg Chem 2023; 62:3047-3055. [PMID: 36734972 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c03771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The iconic W@Au12 icosahedral bare cluster reaches the favorable closed-shell superatomic electron configuration 1S2 1P6 1D10, making it an 18-cluster electron (18-ce) superatom. Here, we pursue the evaluation of a ligand-protected counterpart based on the construction of a fully phosphine-protected [W@Au12(dppm)6] cluster strongly related to the characterized [Au13(dppm)6]5+ homometallic counterpart. The later cluster has the same total number of valence electrons as the former but is considered an 8-ce superatom with 1S2 1P6 configuration. The fundamental differences between 8- and 18-ce species are investigated. The character of the frontier orbitals varies from 1P/1D in the 8-ce case to a 1D/ligand for 18-ce species, enabling an efficient charge transfer toward the ligands upon irradiation, being interesting for electron injection in optoelectronic devices and black absorbers applications. Excited-state properties are also revisited, showing different geometrical and electronic structure variations between 8- and 18-ce species. Moreover, the continuum between the 8- and 18-ce limits has been explored by varying the nature of the encapsulated dopant between group 6 and group 11. The transition between the 8- and 18-ce counts can be formally situated between Pt (8-ce) and Ir (18-ce). Thus, 18-ce derivatives obtained as doped counterparts of homometallic gold clusters can introduce useful alternatives to achieve different properties in related structural motifs, which can be further explored owing to their extension of the well-established versatility of current gold nanoclusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyu Wei
- Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes (ISCR) - UMR 6226, Univ Rennes, CNRS, F-35000Rennes, France
| | - Desmond MacLeod Carey
- Grupo de Química Inorgánica y Materiales Moleculares, Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad Autonoma de Chile, El Llano Subercaseaux 2801, Santiago7500912, Chile
| | - Jean-François Halet
- CNRS-Saint-Gobain-NIMS, IRL 3629, Laboratory for Innovative Key Materials and Structures (LINK), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba305-0044, Japan
| | - Samia Kahlal
- Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes (ISCR) - UMR 6226, Univ Rennes, CNRS, F-35000Rennes, France
| | - Jean-Yves Saillard
- Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes (ISCR) - UMR 6226, Univ Rennes, CNRS, F-35000Rennes, France
| | - Alvaro Muñoz-Castro
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Bellavista 7, Santiago8420524, Chile
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Ninakanti R, Dingenen F, Borah R, Peeters H, Verbruggen SW. Plasmonic Hybrid Nanostructures in Photocatalysis: Structures, Mechanisms, and Applications. Top Curr Chem (Cham) 2022; 380:40. [PMID: 35951165 DOI: 10.1007/s41061-022-00390-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
(Sun)Light is an abundantly available sustainable source of energy that has been used in catalyzing chemical reactions for several decades now. In particular, studies related to the interaction of light with plasmonic nanostructures have been receiving increased attention. These structures display the unique property of localized surface plasmon resonance, which converts light of a specific wavelength range into hot charge carriers, along with strong local electromagnetic fields, and/or heat, which may all enhance the reaction efficiency in their own way. These unique properties of plasmonic nanoparticles can be conveniently tuned by varying the metal type, size, shape, and dielectric environment, thus prompting a research focus on rationally designed plasmonic hybrid nanostructures. In this review, the term "hybrid" implies nanomaterials that consist of multiple plasmonic or non-plasmonic materials, forming complex configurations in the geometry and/or at the atomic level. We discuss the synthetic techniques and evolution of such hybrid plasmonic nanostructures giving rise to a wide variety of material and geometric configurations. Bimetallic alloys, which result in a new set of opto-physical parameters, are compared with core-shell configurations. For the latter, the use of metal, semiconductor, and polymer shells is reviewed. Also, more complex structures such as Janus and antenna reactor composites are discussed. This review further summarizes the studies exploiting plasmonic hybrids to elucidate the plasmonic-photocatalytic mechanism. Finally, we review the implementation of these plasmonic hybrids in different photocatalytic application domains such as H2 generation, CO2 reduction, water purification, air purification, and disinfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajeshreddy Ninakanti
- Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL), Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Fons Dingenen
- Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL), Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Rituraj Borah
- Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL), Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Hannelore Peeters
- Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL), Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sammy W Verbruggen
- Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL), Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
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Kuda-Singappulige GU, Aikens CM. Geometrical and Electronic Structure, Stability, and Optical Absorption Spectra Comparisons between Thiolate- and Chloride-Stabilized Gold Nanoclusters. J Phys Chem A 2019; 123:9712-9720. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.9b06598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Christine M. Aikens
- Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
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Shi Q, Qin Z, Xu H, Li G. Heterogeneous Cross-Coupling over Gold Nanoclusters. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 9:E838. [PMID: 31159397 PMCID: PMC6630966 DOI: 10.3390/nano9060838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Au clusters with the precise numbers of gold atoms, a novel nanogold material, have recently attracted increasing interest in the nanoscience because of very unique and unexpected properties. The unique interaction and electron transfer between gold clusters and reactants make the clusters promising catalysts during organic transformations. The AunLm nanoclusters (where L represents organic ligands and n and m mean the number of gold atoms and ligands, respectively) have been well investigated and developed for selective oxidation, hydrogenation, photo-catalysis, and so on. These gold clusters possess unique frameworks, providing insights into the catalytic processes and an excellent arena to correlate the atomic frameworks with their intrinsic catalytic properties and to further investigate the tentative reaction mechanisms. This review comprehensively summarizes the very latest advances in the catalytic applications of the Au nanoclusters for the C-C cross-coupling reactions, e.g., Ullmann, Sonogashira, Suzuki cross-couplings, and A3-coupling reactions. It is found that the proposed catalytically active sites are associated with the exposure of gold atoms on the surface of the metal core when partial capping organic ligands are selectively detached under the reaction conditions. Finally, the tentative catalytic mechanisms over the ligand-capped Au nanoclusters and the relationship of structure and catalytic performances at the atomic level using computational methods are explored in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanquan Shi
- College of Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China.
| | - Zhaoxian Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China.
| | - Hui Xu
- College of Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China.
| | - Gao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China.
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