Facile and Direct Preparation of Ultrastable Mesoporous Silica with Silver Nanoclusters: High Surface Area

We report the successful direct synthesis of an ultrastable mesoporous silicon dioxide framework containing silver nanoclusters using a modified true liquid crystal templating method. Our modification produced an extraordinary material with a high average Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area of 1785 m² g⁻¹ – the highest reported surface area to date – and an ultrastable mesoporous structure, which has been stable for nine years so far. This method eliminates the need for reduction of silver oxide into metallic silver and restricts the growth of silver clusters. The silver nanoclusters, with an average size of 1 nm, occupy the pores and walls of the framework. Analysis of the material using nitrogen adsorption/desorption method, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, energy-dispersive X-ray diffractometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy is discussed herein.     

Probing Viscosity of Co-Polymer Hydrogel and HeLa Cell Using Fluorescent Gold Nanoclusters: Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy and Anisotropy Decay

Fluorescence dynamics of gold nanoclusters (Au₉ and Au₂₅) are studied in the complex and crowded environment of a triblock co-polymer (F127) hydrogel and inside cervical cancer cell, HeLa. In the hydrogel, spherical micelles of F127 remain immobilized with a hydrophobic core (PPO) and a hydrophilic corona (PEO) region. The fluorescence anisotropy decay suggests that the timescale of rotational relaxation in the hydrogel is similar to that in bulk water (viscosity ∼1 cP). From fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) it is inferred that the local viscosity in the hydrogel is 12 cP for Au₉ and 18 cP for Au₂₃. These results indicate that gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) localize in the corona region of the hydrogel. Evidently, frictions against rotation and translation are different inside the gel. It is suggested that rotation of the AuNCs senses the immediate water-like “void” region while translation motion involves in-and-out movement of the AuNCs at the periphery of the gel. Finally, the gold nanoclusters are used for cell imaging and estimation of intracellular viscosity of HeLa cells.     

Fabricating Dual‐Atom Iron Catalysts for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction: A Heteroatom Modulator Approach

Understanding the thermal aggregation behavior of metal atoms is important for the synthesis of supported metal clusters. Here, derived from a metal–organic framework encapsulating a trinuclear Fe^III₂Fe^II complex (denoted as Fe₃) within the channels, a well‐defined nitrogen‐doped carbon layer is fabricated as an ideal support for stabilizing the generated iron nanoclusters. Atomic replacement of Fe^II by other metal(II) ions (e.g., Zn^II/Co^II) via synthesizing isostructural trinuclear‐complex precursors (Fe₂Zn/Fe₂Co), namely the “heteroatom modulator approach”, is inhibiting the aggregation of Fe atoms toward nanoclusters with formation of a stable iron dimer in an optimal metal–nitrogen moiety, clearly identified by direct transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray absorption fine structure analysis. The supported iron dimer, serving as cooperative metal–metal site, acts as efficient oxygen evolution catalyst. Our findings offer an atomic insight to guide the future design of ultrasmall metal clusters bearing outstanding catalytic capabilities.     

An Unprecedented Kernel Growth Mode and Layer‐Number‐Odevity‐Dependent Properties in Gold Nanoclusters

Kernel atoms of Au nanoclusters are packed layer‐by‐layer along the [001] direction with every full (001) monolayer composed of 8 Au atoms (Au₈ unit) in nanoclusters with formula of Au_8n+4(TBBT)_4n+8 (n is the number of Au₈ units; TBBTH=4‐tert‐butylbenzenelthiol). It is unclear whether the kernel atoms can be stacked in a defective‐layer way along the [001] direction during growth of the series of nanoclusters and how the kernel layer number affects properties. Now, a nanocluster is synthesized that is precisely characterized by mass spectrometry and single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography, revealing a layer stacking mode in which a half monolayer composed of 4 atoms (Au₄ unit) is stacked on the full monolayer along the [001] direction. The size and the odevity of the kernel layer number influence the properties (polarity, photoluminescence) of gold nanoclusters. The obtained nanocluster extends the previous formula from Au_8n+4(TBBT)_4n+8 to Au_4n+4(TBBT)_2n+8 (n is the number of Au₄ units).     

Hard‐Sphere Random Close‐Packed Au47Cd2(TBBT)31 Nanoclusters with a Faradaic Efficiency of Up to 96 % for Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction to CO

Metal nanoclusters have recently attracted considerable attention, not only because of their special size range but also because of their well‐defined compositions and structures. However, subtly tailoring the compositions and structures of metal nanoclusters for potential applications remains challenging. Now, a two‐phase anti‐galvanic reduction (AGR) method is presented for precisely tailoring Au₄₄(TBBT)₂₈ to produce Au₄₇Cd₂(TBBT)₃₁ nanoclusters with a hard‐sphere random close‐packed structure, exhibiting Faradaic efficiencies of up to 96 % at ?0.57 V for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to CO.     

Recent Progress in Inorganic Anions Templated Silver Nanoclusters: Synthesis,Structures and Properties

Over recent years, research on the ligand‐protected silver clusters have gained significant interest owing to their unique potential applications in catalysis, organic optoelectronics, and luminescent materials. However, the synthesis of structurally precise high‐nuclearity silver nanoclusters is still challenging and become one of the prime interests of chemists. The controllable synthesis of high‐nuclearity silver nanoclusters involves the ingenious use of capping ligands or/and templating agents. Thereinto, the main role of the templating agents is to promote the order arrangement of silver ions around them to form discrete molecules. Our lab has performed comprehensive studies on the ligand‐protected silver clusters in the past eight years. This review highlights recent progress in the use of inorganic template anions, silver precursors, solvents, and the ligand types in synthesizing high‐nuclearity silver nanoclusters. Furthermore, some interesting photo‐ and electrochemical properties revealed by silver clusters including luminescent thermochromism, electrical conductivity, and electrochemical reduction of H₂O₂ have been also summarized.     

以DNA为模板的银纳米簇荧光检测及逻辑门的构建

以DNA为模板, 合成了具有荧光性质的银纳米簇(DNA-Ag NCs), 利用荧光光谱、 紫外光谱和红外光谱等手段对其进行了表征. 基于DNA-Ag NCs与离子相互作用时产生的荧光变化可实现对离子浓度的检测. 实验结果表明, 在最佳实验条件下, Ni ²⁺及Hg ²⁺的浓度与DNA-Ag NCs荧光强度呈线性关系; 并验证了该荧光探针用于检测自来水样品中汞离子和镍离子的实用性. 由于以DNA为模板的DNA-Ag NCs能够响应多种刺激, 如Ni ²⁺, S ^2-, Hg ²⁺和pH等, 利用相应的荧光强度可构建多输入的DNA-Ag NCs逻辑门及其组合逻辑门. 当荧光输出强度(I_output)>初始荧光强度(I_origin)时, 设定输出为1, 采用各种刺激及其组合作为输入, 构建了YES, INH和组合的NOR与INH逻辑门. 而只有当I_output≥I_origin时定义为输出为1, 可建立NOT, NOR, 组合的IMP加上NOR与AND逻辑门. 基于DNA-Ag NCs可以构建响应多元输入的复杂逻辑门, 实现化学信息的转变和传输, 在构建新的分子器件方面有较大应用前景.     

Ag_7(MBISA)_6 Nanoclusters Conjugated with Quinacrine for FRETEnhanced Photodynamic Activity under Visible Light Irradiation

Singlet oxygen(1 O2) plays an important role in various applications, such as in the photodynamic therapy(PDT) of cancers,photodynamic inactivation of microorganisms, photo-degradation of toxic compounds, and photo-oxidation in synthetic chemistry. Recently,water-soluble metal nanoclusters(NCs) have been utilized as photosensitizers for the generation of highly reactive 1 O2 because of their high water solubility, low toxicity, and surface functionalizability for targeted substances. In the case of metal NC-based photosensitizers, the photo-physical properties depend on the core size of the NCs and the core/ligand interfacial structures. A wide range of atomically precise gold NCs have been reported; however, reports on the synthesis of atomically precise silver NCs are limited due to the high reactivity and low photostability(i.e., easy oxidation) of Ag NCs. In addition, there have been few reports on what kinds of metal NCs can generate large amounts of 1 O2. In this study, we developed a new one-pot synthesis method of water-soluble Ag7(MBISA)6(MBISA= 2-mercapto-5-benzimidazolesulfonic acid sodium salt) NCs with highly efficient 1 O2 generation ability under the irradiation of white light emitting diodes(LEDs). The molecular formula and purity were determined by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and gel electrophoresis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on atomically precise thiolate silver clusters(Agn(SR)m) for efficient 1 O2 generation under visible light irradiation. The 1 O2 generation efficiency of Ag7(MBISA)6 NCs was higher than those of the following known water-soluble metal NCs: bovine serum albumin(BSA)-Au25 NCs,BSA-Ag8 NCs, BSA-Ag14 NCs,Ag25(dihydrolipoic acid)14 NCs,Ag35(glutathione)18 NCs,and Ag75(glutathione)40 NCs. The metal NCs examined in this study showed the following order of 1 O2 generation efficiency under white light irradiation: Ag7(MBISA)6 BSA-Ag14 Ag75(SG)40 Ag35(SG)18 BSA-Au25 BSA-Ags(not detected) and Ag2 s(DHLA)14(not detected). For further improving the 1 O2 generation of Ag7(MBISA)6 NCs, we developed a novel fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET) system by conjugating Ag7(MBISA)6 NCs with quinacrine(QC)(molar ratio of Ag NCs to QC is 1 : 0.5). We observed the FRET process,from QC to Ag7(MBISA)6 NCs,occurring in the conjugate. That is,the QC works as a donor chromophore,while the Ag NCs work as an acceptor chromophore in the FRET process. The FRET-mediated process caused a 2.3-fold increase in 1 O2 generation compared to that obtained with Ag7(MBISA)6 NCs alone. This study establishes a general and simple strategy for improving the PDT activity of metal NC-based photosensitizers.