Atomically precise nanoclusters (NCs) of coinage metals (Cu, Ag, and Au) represent a burgeoning class of functional materials with remarkable properties. Ranging from ∼1-3 nm in diameter, these NCs exhibit quantum confinement effects, leading to distinctive optical, photophysical, and chemical attributes.1 Their uniform size and atomic arrangement offer insights into structure-property relationships, enabling applications in optoelectronics, sensing, nonlinear optics, and solar cells. Incorporating heterometal atoms via doping enhances ambient stability and catalytic activity. Effective doping strategies involving Ni, Pt, Pd, Au, and Cu have been developed, guided by precise selection of metal components and ligands.2,3 However, synthesizing silver NCs with specific nuclearity and high purity remains challenging. Various synthesis methods, including unconventional approaches like mechanical grinding and microwave irradiation, have been explored, alongside purification techniques to scale up production.4 This seminar will highlight recent advancements in synthesizing heterometal-doped coinage metal NCs, emphasizing their potential from fundamental research to practical applications. Additionally, it will present my research plan and the work carried out so far.
References:
(1) Kang, X.; Li, Y.; Zhu, M.; Jin, R. Atomically Precise Alloy Nanoclusters: Syntheses, Structures, and Properties. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2020, 49 (17), 6443–6514. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9CS00633H.
(2) Atomically Precise Clusters of Noble Metals: Emerging Link between Atoms and Nanoparticles | Chemical Reviews. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00769 (accessed 2024-02-21).
(3) Khatun, E.; Pradeep, T. New Routes for Multicomponent Atomically Precise Metal Nanoclusters. ACS Omega 2021, 6 (1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c04832.
(4) Atomically Precise Colloidal Metal Nanoclusters and Nanoparticles: Fundamentals and Opportunities | Chemical Reviews. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00703 (accessed 2024-02-21).