Ag₅ nanoclusters with dual catalytic antiradical activities

Area of Science:

• Catalysis
• Nanomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Radicals play a critical role in various chemical processes, including polymer degradation.
• Developing efficient radical scavengers is crucial for industrial and biomedical applications.
• Silver nanoclusters show promise as catalytic materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the radical scavenging and catalytic activities of silver nanoclusters (Ag5).
• To explore the potential of Ag5 as an anti-radical catalyst and inhibitor of polymer degradation.
• To elucidate the reaction mechanisms involved using computational modeling.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 2,2-diphenyl-1‑picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical as a model system.
• Employed density functional theory (DFT) calculations to support experimental observations.
• Investigated polymer degradation using Attenuated Total Reflection-FTIR spectroscopy under simulated photo-ageing conditions.

Main Results:

• Ag5 nanoclusters demonstrated high catalytic activity in reducing DPPH radicals, acting as stable anti-radical catalysts.
• The catalytic activity of Ag5 was significantly higher than existing catalysts like oxidases and graphene quantum dots.
• Ag5 inhibited polymer oxidation by favoring the formation of inactive products over detrimental ketones.

Conclusions:

• Ag5 nanoclusters are highly efficient dual-redox catalytic radical scavengers.
• These findings open avenues for post-process inhibition of polymer degradation.
• Ag5 nanoclusters hold potential for diverse industrial and biomedical applications.