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Zero-dimensional cupper(i) organometallic metal halide, with a perovskite-related structure, exhibits an efficient green cluster-centred emission for next-generation X-ray imaging screens.

Precise identification and in-depth understanding of defects in nanomaterials can aid in rationally modulating defect-induced functionalities. However, few studies have explored vacancy defects in ligand-stabilized metal nanoclusters with well-defined structures, owing to the substantial challenge of synthesizing and isolating such defective metal nanoclusters. Herein, a novel defective copper hydride nanocluster, [Cu36H10(PET)24(PPh3)6Cl2] (Cu36; PET: phenylethanethiolate; PPh3: triphenylphosphine), is successfully synthesized at the gram scale via a simple one-pot reduction method. Structural analysis reveals that Cu36 is a distorted half cubic nanocluster, evolved from the perfect Nichol's half cube. The two surface copper vacancies in Cu36 are found to be the principal imperfections, which result in some structural adjustments, including copper atom reconstruction near the vacancies as well as ligand modifications (e.g., substitution, migration, and exfoliation). Density functional theory calculations imply that the above-mentioned defects have a considerable influence on the electronic structure and properties. The modeling suggests that the formation of defective Cu36 rather than the perfect half cube is driven by the enlargement of the energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the nanocluster. The structural evolution induced by the surface copper atom vacancies provides atomically precise insights into the defect-induced readjustment of the local structure and introduces new avenues for understanding the chemistry of defects in nanomaterials.

Polyhydrido copper nanoclusters are an emerging class of nanomaterials. Unfortunately, insights into the structural evolution and structure–property relationship of such copper nanoclusters are sca...

Copper-based nanomaterials have attracted tremendous interest due to their unique properties in the fields of photoluminescence and catalysis. As a result, studies on the correlation between their molecular structure and their properties are of great importance. Copper nanoclusters are a new class of nanomaterials that can provide an atomic-level view of the crystal structure of copper nanoparticles. Herein, a high-nuclearity copper nanocluster with 81 copper atoms, formulated as [Cu81(PhS)46(tBuNH2)10(H)32]3+ (Cu81), was successfully synthesized and fully studied by X-ray crystallography, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, hydrogen evolution experiments, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations. Cu81 exhibits extraordinary structural characteristics, including (i) three types of novel epitaxial surface-protecting motifs; (ii) an unusual planar Cu17 core; (iii) a hemispherical shell, comprised of a curved surface layer and a planar surface layer; and (iv) two distinct, self-organized arrangements of protective ligands on the curved and planar surfaces. The present study sheds light on structurally unexplored copper nanomaterials and paves the way for the synthesis of high-nuclearity copper nanoclusters.

Crystalline cluster-assembled materials (CAMs) are emerging as types of exploratory fabrications due to their atomically precise structures and intriguing chemical/physical properties, as well as t...

Precise identification and in-depth understanding of defects in nanomaterials can aid in rationally modulating defect-induced functionalities. However, few studies have explored vacancy defects in ligand-stabilized metal nanoclusters with well-defined structures, owing to the substantial challenge of synthesizing and isolating such defective metal nanoclusters. Herein, a novel defective copper hydride nanocluster, [Cu

Although core–shell copper metal nanoclusters are important emerging materials for practical applications and fundamental scientific research, their synthesis lags behind that of gold and silver na...

Here, we demonstrate an approach to synthesizing and structurally characterizing three atomically precise anion-templated silver thiolate nanoclusters, two of which form one- and two-dimensional structural frameworks composed of bipyridine-linked nanocluster nodes (referred to as nanocluster-based frameworks, NCFs). We describe the critical role of the chloride (Cl

Silver chalcogenolate clusters (SCCs) and silver cluster-assembled materials (SCAMs) are an important category of novel luminescent materials, the emission of which can be modulated by variation of the cluster nodes and linker species. Here, the successfully synthesis of two isostructural 2D SCAMs is reported: Ag12 bpa and Ag12 bpe are formed by using two linkers with different conformational freedom (bpa=1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane, bpe=1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene), with dodenuclear silver chalcogenolate clusters as secondary building units (SBUs). Interestingly, nonluminescent Ag12 bpa at room temperature could quickly transform into 1D Ag10 bpa, with concomitant dissociation of two silver atoms and the remaining ten silver atoms rearranging in the cluster, thus exhibiting an intense yellow phosphorescence after being triggered by acetonitrile (CH3 CN). Similarly, stimulating Ag12 bpe with CH3 CN, by contrast, gave another 2D structure Ag12 bpe-1b with the distorted SBUs and different topology structure, and both of them are merely red-emissive at low temperature. To note, after exchanging ligands, room-temperature nonluminescent 2D Ag12 bpe-1b can be transformed into intensely luminescent 1D Ag10 bpa. This linker-flexibility-dependent structural transformation and cluster-based SBU controlled luminescence remains scarce. Our work provides new insights into structure-luminescence relationship in clustered metal-organic frameworks and intelligent stimulus-responsive luminescent materials.

Three new silver–chalcogenide clusters protected by naphthyl ligands are described in this work, namely [Ag14(SCH2C10H7)6(CF3COO)8(DMAc)6] (1), [Ag30(SCH2C10H7)18(CrO4)2(DMAc)2 (CF3COO)8] (DMAc = dimethylacetamide) (2) and {Ag12(SCH2C10H7)6(CF3COO)4(CH3CN)6(Cr2O7)}n (3). Their crystal structures were studied by X-ray crystallography, and they show hollow-core–shell (1), template-core–shell (2) and 1D infinite (3) structures, respectively. The luminescence properties of cluster 1 were investigated, which showed interesting thermochromic variation from red to bright yellow. Moreover, the chromate ions were proven to act as templates in forming the silver clusters through a series of experiments to prepare compounds 2 and 3, which could be considered as derivatives of cluster 1.

A new 1D silver cluster-assembled complex Ag10bpy-CH3CN exhibiting intense photoluminescence was reported. Upon the loss of coordinated acetonitrile, Ag10bpy-CH3CN form Ag10bpy with Ag10S6 cores slightly distorted, being accompanied with photoluminescence quenching. Inverse process can be realized by treating Ag10bpy with acetonitrile and shows a selectively erasable photoluminescent switch.

Due to their atomically precise structure, photoluminescent copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) have emerged as promising materials in both fundamental studies and technological applications, such as bio-imaging, cell labeling, phototherapy, and photo-activated catalysis. In this work, a facile strategy is reported for the synthesis of a novel Cu NCs coprotected by thiolate and phosphine ligands, formulated as [Cu

Copper-based nanomaterials have attracted tremendous interest due to their unique properties in the fields of photoluminescence and catalysis. As a result, studies on the correlation between their molecular structure and their properties are of great importance. Copper nanoclusters are a new class of nanomaterials that can provide an atomic-level view of the crystal structure of copper nanoparticles. Herein, a high-nuclearity copper nanocluster with 81 copper atoms, formulated as [Cu

Silver chalcogenolate cluster assembled materials (SCAMs) are a category of promising light-emitting materials the luminescence of which can be modulated by variation of their building blocks (cluster nodes and organic linkers). The transformation of a singly emissive [Ag12 (SBut )8 (CF3 COO)4 (bpy)4 ]n (Ag12 bpy, bpy=4,4'-bipyridine) into a dual-emissive [(Ag12 (SBut )6 (CF3 COO)6 (bpy)3 )]n (Ag12 bpy-2) via cluster-node isomerization, the critical importance of which was highlighted in dictating the photoluminescence properties of SCAMs. Moreover, the newly obtained Ag12 bpy-2 served to construct visual thermochromic Ag12 bpy-2/NH2 by a mixed-linker synthesis, together with dichromatic core-shell Ag12 bpy-2@Ag12 bpy-NH2 -2 via solvent-assisted linker exchange. This work provides insight into the significance of metal arrangement on physical properties of nanoclusters.

A polyoxometalate-templated silver(I) thiolate nanocluster has been synthesized by a one-pot reaction in high yield. This novel and stable nanocluster exhibits a core–shell structure with a Ag67S36 shell and two lacunary Keggin [PW9O34]9– cores, which is fully characterized by X-ray crystallography, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV–vis, powder X-ray diffraction, and cyclic voltammetry.

Interest has been growing in defects of halide perovskites in view of their intimate connection with key material optoelectronic properties. In perovskite quantum dots (PQDs), the influence of defects is even more apparent than in their bulk counterparts. By combining experiment and theory, we report herein a halide-vacancy-driven, ligand-directed self-assembly process of CsPbBr3 PQDs. With the assistance of oleic acid and didodecyldimethylammonium sulfide, surface-Br-vacancy-rich CsPbBr3 PQDs self-assemble into nanowires (NWs) that are 20-60 nm in width and several millimeters in length. The NWs exhibit a sharp photoluminescence profile (≈18 nm full-width at-half-maximum) that peaks at 525 nm. Our findings provide insight into the defect-correlated dynamics of PQDs and defect-assisted fabrication of perovskite materials and devices.

Due to their atomically precise structure, photoluminescent copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) have emerged as promising materials in both fundamental studies and technological applications, such as bio-imaging, cell labeling, phototherapy, and photo-activated catalysis. In this work, a facile strategy is reported for the synthesis of a novel Cu NCs coprotected by thiolate and phosphine ligands, formulated as [Cu15 (PPh3 )6 (PET)13 ]2+ , which exhibits bright emission in the near-infrared (NIR) region (≈720 nm) and crystallization-induced emission enhancement (CIEE) phenomenon. Single crystal X-ray crystallography shows that the NC possesses an extraordinary distorted trigonal antiprismatic Cu6 core and a, unique among metal clusters, "tri-blade fan"-like structure. An in-depth structural investigation of the ligand shell combined with density functional theory calculations reveal that the extended CH···π and π-π intermolecular ligand interactions significantly restrict the intramolecular rotations and vibrations and, thus, are a major reason for the CIEE phenomena. This study provides a strategy for the controllable synthesis of structurally defined Cu NCs with NIR luminescence, which enables essential insights into the origins of their optical properties.

Utilizing aggregation‐induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) as ligands has proven to be an effective strategy for constructing metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with intense luminescent properties. However, highly luminescent AIEgen‐based MOFs with adjustable emission properties are rarely achieved because of the rigid conformation of AIEgens in the crystalline state. Here, a dual‐node 3D silver chalcogenolate cluster MOF (1) is designed and synthesized, where the AIE ligand shows relatively flexible and rotatable conformations. The conformations of AIE ligands in 1 are switchable by the absorption/desorption of guest molecules. As a result, 1 exhibited not only intense but also guest molecule switched luminescent properties. More importantly, the switching rate is tunable by using different guest molecules. 1 provides a unique visualized prototype to understand the mechanism of guest‐triggered aggregation‐induced emission in MOFs.

Convenient generation of stable superatomic silver clusters and their systematic site-specific tailoring and directional assembly present an enduring and significant challenge. In this work, we prepared a face-centered cubic (fcc) array of Ag14 superatoms protected by face-capping 1,2-dithiolate-o-carborane (C2B10H10S2) ligands, each produced from 1-thiol-o-carborane in crystallization with simultaneous reduction of Ag+ to Ag0. We find that the corner N-donor ligands contribute predominately to the stability and luminescence of the Ag14 superatom. As the first-formed nanocluster [Ag14(C2B10H10S2)6(CH3CN)8]·4CH3CN (NC-1) with labile vertex-coordinated CH3CN ligands is highly unstable, monodendate pyridine ligands were used to replace these CH3CN species site-specifically, giving [Ag14(C2B10H10S2)6(pyridine/p-methylpyridine)8] (NCs-2,3) in gram scale with its core structure intact, which features ultrastability up to 150 °C in air. Moreover, using bidentate N-containing ligands to bridge the superatomic Ag1...

Three new coordination polymers, namely, [ML(H2O)]n (M = Co (1), Zn (2)) and [CuL(DMF)]n (3), have been hydrothermally synthesized through the reaction of bifunctional ligand 5-((2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl)benzene-1,3-dioic acid (H2L) with divalent cobalt, zinc and copper salts, and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR and X-ray diffraction. Both complexes 1 and 2 are two-fold interpenetration 3D frameworks. Complex 3 exhibits (3,6)-connected framework with (4.62)2(42.610.83) topology. Furthermore, UV–vis absorption spectra and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) were investigated as well.

The reactions of flexible supramolecular synthons with a pendant ethynide arm attached to a heteroaryl skeleton and different silver(I) salts under solvent evaporation conditions yielded four silver–organic frameworks. In 1–4, the Ag7, Ag8 and Ag9 aggregates are fused together through trifluoroacetate groups and/or Ag–N coordination bonds to generate a 2D layer, and finally linked into 3D supramolecular networks by argentophilic interactions or hydrogen bonding. The diversities of the present structures also indicate that both solvent and the anionic component play vital roles in the assembly of silver(I)–ethynide complexes. In addition, their luminescence behaviors have been studied in the solid state.

A new thick silver rod incorporating repeated Ag3 units sustained by 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (1,3,5-H3BTC) and Ag⋯Ag interactions, {[Ag3(BTC)(pyz)]·(H2O)}n (1) (pyz = pyrazine), has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Compound 1 displays a three-dimensional coordination framework with infinite 1D Ag rod, and adjacent silver rods bridged by the 1,3,5-H3BTC and pyz ligand. Argentophilicity plays an important role in determining the infinite silver(I) rods. Complex 1 exhibits photoluminescence maximized at 542 nm upon 363 nm excitation at room temperature, which may be mainly assigned to ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) perturbed by Ag⋯Ag interactions. Temperature dependent luminescence spectra from 298 to 77 K have been studied. Upon decreasing the temperature from 298 to 77 K, the emission bands grow in intensity. In addition, the thermogravimetric analysis and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) of complex 1 have also been investigated.

Silver(i) chalcogenide/chalcogenolate clusters are promising photofunctional materials for sensing, optoelectronics and solar energy harvesting applications. However, their instability and poor room-temperature luminescent quantum yields have hampered more extensive study. Here, we graft such clusters to adaptable bridging ligands, enabling their interconnection and the formation of rigid metal–organic frameworks. By controlling the spatial separation and orientation of the clusters, they then exhibit enhanced stability (over one year) and quantum yield (12.1%). Ultrafast dual-function fluorescence switching (

A polyoxometalate-templated silver thiolate nanocluster, [Ag62(S(t)Bu)40(Mo20O66)(Mo6O19)3(CH3CN)2]·(CF3SO3)4 (1), has been isolated, in which a giant peanut-like silver(i)-thiolate cluster [Ag62(S(t)Bu)40](22+) encapsulates an unprecedented [Mo20O66](12-) polyoxoanion core. It opens a new approach for the synthesis of both elusive polyoxometalates and high-nuclearity silver(i)-thiolate nanoclusters.

A Ag12(SCH2C10H7)6(CF3CO2)6(CH3CN)6 (1) nanocluster modified using naphthalen-2-yl-methanethiol was synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. The targeted luminescent nanocluster displays dual emission with the property of reversible thermochromism spanning from red to bright yellow.

A novel discrete open high-nuclearity nest-like silver thiolate cluster complex, [Ag33 S3 (StBu)16 (CF3 COO)9 (NO3 )(CH3 CN)2 ](NO3 ) (1), has been isolated with nitrate and S(2-) anions acting as structure-directing templates. Its similar nest-like structure has been assembled into an extended layer [Ag31 S3 (StBu)16 (NO3 )9 ]n (2) by adjustment of auxiliary ligand. More interestingly, both complexes exhibit temperature-dependent luminescence of high sensitivity with a large fluorescence enhancement (12-fold for 1, 21-fold for 2), which can be easily recognized by the naked-eye (dramatic red-shift Δ=104 nm for 1, larger Δ=113 nm for 2 at 77 K compared to those at 298 K). The correlation between luminescent thermochromism and temperature-dependent variation of the coordination modes of template NO3 (-) anion, Ag⋅⋅⋅S and Ag⋅⋅⋅Ag distances are also elucidated through variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray crystal structure (VT-SCXRD) analyses.

A series of six silver(I) complexes bearing terminal ethynide moiety attached via pendant arm to biphenyl and phenoxybenzene skeletons of two new ligands have been synthesized. In these compounds, the invariable appearance of the μ3-, μ4- and μ5-ligation modes of the ethynide moiety reaffirms the general utility of the silver–ethynide supramolecular synthons L ⊃ Agn (n = 3–5) in coordination network assembly. In complexes 1, 2, 4, and 5, silver(I)–aromatic interactions play important roles in assembling a series of silver–organic frameworks. Notably, an unusual π⋯Ag4⋯π sandwich unit makes it appearance in complex 2, which is the first example in silver–ethynide complexes. An argentophilic layer is found in complex 3. In addition, a two-fold interpenetrating 3D supramolecular framework based on discrete Ag8 aggregate is found in complex 6. In the solid state, their luminescence behaviors have been studied.