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DNA Stabilizes Eight-Electron Superatom Silver Nanoclusters with Broadband Downconversion and Microsecond-Lived
Anna Gonzàlez-Rosell1, Rweetuparna Guha1, Cecilia Cerretani2
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
|August 29, 2022
Summary
Researchers discovered new DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters (Ag-DNAs) with unique quasi-spherical structures. These novel Ag-DNAs exhibit microsecond luminescence, expanding the understanding of structure-property relationships in nanomaterials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- DNA oligomers stabilize silver nanoclusters (Ag-DNAs).
- Previously reported Ag-DNAs exhibit rod-like structures and nanosecond fluorescence.
- Limited understanding of structure-property relationships in Ag-DNAs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report novel Ag-DNAs with distinct structural properties.
- To investigate the luminescence characteristics of these new Ag-DNAs.
- To expand the structure-property relations for DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of two unique Ag-DNAs.
- Characterization of structural properties using circular dichroism spectroscopy.
- Analysis of luminescence properties, including emission spectra and lifetime.
Main Results:
- Two new Ag-DNAs were synthesized with significantly different structures compared to previous reports.
- These Ag-DNAs exhibit microsecond-lived luminescence, a first for this class of materials.
- The nanoclusters possess quasi-spherical superatom structures with eight valence electrons.
- Broadband downconversion from UV/Visible to near-infrared was observed.
Conclusions:
- Nanocluster composition and geometry critically influence luminescence properties of Ag-DNAs.
- The discovery of quasi-spherical Ag-DNAs expands the known structural diversity.
- This work significantly broadens the scope of achievable structure-property relations for Ag-DNAs.
