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Metallic Solids

Metallic Solids

Metallic solids such as crystals of copper, aluminum, and iron are formed by metal atoms. The structure of metallic crystals is often described as a uniform distribution of atomic nuclei within a “sea” of delocalized electrons. The atoms within such a metallic solid are held together by a unique force known as metallic bonding that gives rise to many useful and varied bulk properties.
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....

Bonding in Metals

Bonding in Metals

Metallic bonds are formed between two metal atoms. A simplified model to describe metallic bonding has been developed by Paul Drüde called the “Electron Sea Model”.

Atomic Structure

Atomic Structure

Alkali Metals

Alkali Metals

Group 1 elements are soft and shiny metallic solids. They are malleable, ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity. The melting points of the alkali metals are unusually low for metals and decrease going down the group, while the density increases going down the group with the exception of potassium (Table 1).
Table 1: Properties of the alkali metals

Metal-Ligand Bonds

Metal-Ligand Bonds

The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...

Properties of Transition Metals

Properties of Transition Metals

Transition metals are defined as those elements that have partially filled d orbitals. As shown in Figure 1, the d-block elements in groups 3–12 are transition elements. The f-block elements, also called inner transition metals (the lanthanides and actinides), also meet this criterion because the d orbital is partially occupied before the f orbitals.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 7, 2026

A Bright NIR-II Fluorescence Probe for Vascular and Tumor Imaging

A Bright NIR-II Fluorescence Probe for Vascular and Tumor Imaging

Published on: March 17, 2023

Atomically Precise Metal Clusters for NIR-II Imaging.

Huizhen Ma¹, Di Ma¹, Pengfei Liu¹

¹Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering, Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.

Accounts of Chemical Research

|February 5, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Atomically precise metal clusters offer advanced near-infrared II (NIR-II) imaging for deep-tissue visualization and disease diagnosis. Their tunable properties and biocompatibility pave the way for enhanced biomedical applications and clinical translation.

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Biomedical Imaging
Nanotechnology

Background:

Near-infrared II (NIR-II) imaging offers superior penetration and signal-to-noise ratios due to reduced light scattering and tissue absorption.
Atomically precise metal clusters possess unique NIR-II luminescence properties tunable through atomic engineering and ligand design.
These ultrasmall clusters exhibit excellent biocompatibility and renal clearance, crucial for clinical translation.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a comprehensive overview of atomically precise metal clusters for NIR-II biomedical imaging.
To detail their luminescence properties, imaging techniques, biomedical applications, and biosafety.
To highlight the synergy between metal clusters, advanced imaging, and artificial intelligence for enhanced diagnostics.

Main Methods:

Analysis of crystal structures to understand atomic arrangements and property control.
Characterization of photophysical parameters, including emission wavelength and quantum yield (QY).
Review of NIR-II luminescence mechanisms, tuning strategies, and integration with imaging technologies (wide-field, 3D microscopy, AI-assisted processing).

Main Results:

Atomically precise metal clusters demonstrate tunable NIR-II luminescence, enabling high-resolution, deep-tissue imaging.
Integration with advanced imaging and AI significantly enhances sensitivity, accuracy, and signal-to-noise ratios.
Demonstrated applications in monitoring tumor progression, neurological imaging, and clinical pathology visualization.

Conclusions:

Atomically precise metal clusters are promising probes for advanced NIR-II biomedical imaging.
Their tunable luminescence, biocompatibility, and integration with AI facilitate precise disease monitoring and diagnosis.
Continued development is essential for their safe and effective clinical translation in various medical fields.