Sub-nanometer Cu(i) clusters: coordination-modulated (Se vs. S) atom-packing mode and emission.

Area of Science:

• Coordination Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Photophysics

Background:

• Copper(I) clusters are crucial in materials science.
• Ligand choice significantly impacts cluster structure and properties.
• Understanding ligand effects is key to tuning material performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of selenium (Se) versus sulfur (S) ligands on copper(I) cluster formation.
• To explore how different coordination modes affect cluster architecture.
• To analyze the impact of ligand type on temperature-dependent luminescence.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of copper(I) clusters with Se and S ligands.
• Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction.
• Variable-temperature luminescence spectroscopy.

Main Results:

• Selenium (Se) atoms exhibit a wider range of coordination modes (μ2, μ3, μ4, μ6) with copper (Cu) compared to sulfur (S) atoms.
• The coordination behavior of Se significantly alters the atom-packing arrangements within Cu(I) clusters.
• Clusters functionalized with Se and S displayed distinct temperature-dependent luminescence characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Ligand choice, specifically the Se vs. S atom, is a critical factor in dictating Cu(I) cluster topology.
• The enhanced coordination versatility of Se enables novel cluster architectures.
• Tailoring ligands offers a pathway to control the photoluminescent behavior of copper clusters for potential applications.