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Structural distortion and electron redistribution in dual-emitting gold nanoclusters

Author

Listed:
  • Qi Li

    (Carnegie Mellon University
    Stanford University)

  • Dongming Zhou

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Jinsong Chai

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Woong Young So

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Tong Cai

    (Brown University)

  • Mingxing Li

    (Brookhaven National Laboratory)

  • Linda A. Peteanu

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Ou Chen

    (Brown University)

  • Mircea Cotlet

    (Brookhaven National Laboratory)

  • X. Wendy Gu

    (Stanford University)

  • Haiming Zhu

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Rongchao Jin

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

Abstract

Deciphering the complicated excited-state process is critical for the development of luminescent materials with controllable emissions in different applications. Here we report the emergence of a photo-induced structural distortion accompanied by an electron redistribution in a series of gold nanoclusters. Such unexpected slow process of excited-state transformation results in near-infrared dual emission with extended photoluminescent lifetime. We demonstrate that this dual emission exhibits highly sensitive and ratiometric response to solvent polarity, viscosity, temperature and pressure. Thus, a versatile luminescent nano-sensor for multiple environmental parameters is developed based on this strategy. Furthermore, we fully unravel the atomic-scale structural origin of this unexpected excited-state transformation, and demonstrate control over the transition dynamics by tailoring the bi-tetrahedral core structures of gold nanoclusters. Overall, this work provides a substantial advance in the excited-state physical chemistry of luminescent nanoclusters and a general strategy for the rational design of next-generation nano-probes, sensors and switches.

Suggested Citation

  • Qi Li & Dongming Zhou & Jinsong Chai & Woong Young So & Tong Cai & Mingxing Li & Linda A. Peteanu & Ou Chen & Mircea Cotlet & X. Wendy Gu & Haiming Zhu & Rongchao Jin, 2020. "Structural distortion and electron redistribution in dual-emitting gold nanoclusters," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-16686-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16686-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiao-Hong Ma & Jing Li & Peng Luo & Jia-Hua Hu & Zhen Han & Xi-Yan Dong & Guohua Xie & Shuang-Quan Zang, 2023. "Carbene-stabilized enantiopure heterometallic clusters featuring EQE of 20.8% in circularly-polarized OLED," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Haohua Deng & Kaiyuan Huang & Lingfang Xiu & Weiming Sun & Qiaofeng Yao & Xiangyu Fang & Xin Huang & Hamada A. A. Noreldeen & Huaping Peng & Jianping Xie & Wei Chen, 2022. "Bis-Schiff base linkage-triggered highly bright luminescence of gold nanoclusters in aqueous solution at the single-cluster level," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.

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