Modulating photo-luminescence of Au2Cu6 nanoclusters via ligand-engineering

Abstract

In this work, the luminescence of Au₂Cu₆ nanoclusters was controlled by tailoring the ligand to metal charge transfer via engineering the phosphine ligands with electron-donating or -withdrawing substituents. The fluorescence intensity was significantly enhanced from the Au₂Cu₆ nanocluster with P(Ph–F)₃ ligands (quantum yield QY = 5.7%) to that with P(Ph–OMe)₃ ligands (QY = 17.7%). In addition, the fluorescence of Au₂Cu₆ protected by P(Ph–OMe)₃ slightly red-shifts compared to that of Au₂Cu₆ protected by P(Ph–F)₃, which is similar to the trends of UV-vis spectra tendency.