Structure Determination of Alkynyl‐Protected Gold Nanocluster Au22(tBuC≡C)18 and Its Thermochromic Luminescence

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 59; no. 6; pp. 2309 - 2312
• Main Authors: Han, Xu‐Shuang, Luan, Xinqi, Su, Hai‐Feng, Li, Jiao‐Jiao, Yuan, Shang‐Fu, Lei, Zhen, Pei, Yong, Wang, Quan‐Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 03.02.2020
• Edition: International ed. in English
• Subjects: alkyne ligands; cluster compounds; Crystal structure; Emission spectra; Emissions; Fluorescence; Gold; Luminescence; Molecular structure; Nanoclusters; Staples; structure elucidation; Temperature dependence
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201912984

An alkynyl‐protected gold nanocluster, Au22(tBuC≡C)18 (1), has been synthesized and its structure has been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The molecular structure consists of a Au13 cuboctahedron kernel and three [Au3(tBuC≡C)4] trimeric staples. The cluster 1 has strong luminescence in the solid state with a 15 % quantum yield, and it displays interesting thermochromic luminescence as revealed by temperature‐dependent emission spectra. The enhanced room‐temperature emission is characterized as thermally activated delayed fluorescence. Total determination: The total structure determination of an alkynyl‐protected gold nanocluster, Au22(tBuC≡C)18, has been achieved. It consists of a Au13 cuboctahedron kernel and three [Au3(tBuC≡C)4] trimeric staples. The cluster displays strong thermochromic luminescence characterized as thermally activated delayed fluorescence.