From intermediate capture to functional cluster construction: Synthesis of silver clusters and their Br − /I − sensing applications

• Published in: Polyoxometalates Vol. 4; no. 2; p. 9140086
• Main Authors: Zhang, Zhixun, Dai, Juefei, Feng, Cheng-Cheng, Shi, Chuanhua, Zhou, Lebing, Yu, Xianyong, Yang, Chao, Zhang, Xueji, Yang, Huayan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tsinghua University Press 01.06.2025
• Subjects: aggregation-induced redshift; halide ion sensing; ligand-controlled synthesis; near-infrared fluorescence; silver nanoclusters
• ISSN: 2957-9821; 2957-9503
• DOI: 10.26599/POM.2025.9140086

In this study, the controlled synthesis of highly stable Ag56 clusters was achieved using 4-vinylbenzoic acid (p-VBA) and tert-butyl mercaptan as ligands by accurately tuning reaction parameters such as temperature and solvent. Additionally, intermediates Ag20, Ag31, Ag32, along with the dimers of Ag31/Ag32, Ag30-bpbenz (bpbenz: 1,4-di(4-pyridyl)benzene), and Ag31-bpe (bpe: 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)) were successfully captured. This series of nanoclusters exhibited a distinctive fluorescence aggregation-induced redshift phenomenon owing to the π–π interactions of the ligand. Additionally, the Ag56 nanocluster serves as a near-infrared fluorescence sensor for Br− and I−, with detection limits as low as 85 and 105 nM, respectively. This study offers new insights and methodologies for the synthesis of metal clusters and their applications in ion sensing.