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Updated: Aug 11, 2025
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Low-energy Cathodoluminescence for OxyNitride Phosphors
Published on: November 15, 2016
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A stable superatomic Cu6(SMPP)6 nanocluster with dual emission
Haiming Wu1, Rajini Anumula1, Gaya N Andrew1
1Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China. zxluo@iccas.ac.cn.
Nanoscale
|February 6, 2023
Summary
We synthesized a stable copper-6 (Cu6) nanocluster using 2-mercapto-5-n-propylpyrimidine ligands. This Cu6(SMPP)6 cluster shows superatomic stability and dual UV-Vis and near-infrared emissions.
Area of Science:
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Copper nanoclusters (NCs) are promising for various applications due to their unique properties.
- Developing stable and functional copper nanoclusters requires precise control over their structure and ligand environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize a highly stable Cu6 nanocluster protected by 2-mercapto-5-n-propylpyrimidine (SMPP) ligands.
- To investigate the structural, electronic, and photoluminescent properties of the synthesized Cu6(SMPP)6 nanocluster.
Main Methods:
- Single-crystal X-ray diffraction for structural determination.
- Spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis, photoluminescence) for optical property analysis.
- First-principles calculations for theoretical validation of electronic structure and interactions.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of a stable Cu6(SMPP)6 nanocluster with a quasi-octahedral superatomic Cu6 core.
- Identification of three distinct packing modes arising from ligand orientation.
- Observation of dual emission in the UV-Vis and near-infrared regions.
- Theoretical calculations confirmed experimental findings regarding electronic states and metal-ligand interactions.
Conclusions:
- The Cu6(SMPP)6 nanocluster exhibits remarkable superatomic stability due to its electronic configuration.
- The ligand's coordination and orientation influence the nanocluster's packing and properties.
- Dual emission properties suggest potential applications in optoelectronics and sensing.
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