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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
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Synthesis of Near-Infrared Emitting Gold Nanoclusters for Biological Applications
Published on: March 22, 2020
Metallomacrocyclic Ligands Stabilized Icosahedral Superatomic Nanoclusters With NIR-I to NIR-II Phosphorescence
Minjian Wu1, Xiang-Ming Zeng1, Lin-Hua Wang1
1MOE Key Laboratory of Cluster Sciences, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, P. R. China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|August 5, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed novel M13@M6 nanoclusters with near-infrared-II (NIR-II) phosphorescence for biological imaging. Metallomacrocyclic ligands and alloying strategies enabled tunable NIR-II emission and catalytic activity.
Area of Science:
- Nanomaterials Science
- Photochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Coinage metal nanoclusters are promising for biological applications due to their near-infrared-II (NIR-II) photoluminescence.
- Developing NIR-II emitting nanoclusters with enhanced properties remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first icosahedral M13 cluster exhibiting NIR-II phosphorescence.
- To explore the role of metallomacrocyclic ligands and alloying in modulating photophysical and catalytic properties.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized M13@M6 clusters using metallomacrocyclic ligands and an alloying strategy.
- Employed theoretical calculations and emission spectra to study photoluminescence.
- Investigated catalytic activity through site-specific metal composition tuning.
Main Results:
- Achieved NIR-II phosphorescence in M13 clusters through metallomacrocyclic coordination and alloying.
- Demonstrated that doping-induced charge transfer shifts emission to the NIR-II region.
- Enhanced NIR-II emission by an order of magnitude via pyrene functionalization and modulated catalytic activity.
Conclusions:
- Metallomacrocyclic ligands offer a versatile platform for regulating luminescence and catalytic properties of coinage metal nanoclusters.
- Developed a systematic framework for NIR-II emission modulation through doping, ligand engineering, and functionalization.
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