Aggregation induced emission enhancement of ligand-engineered Au Nanoclusters

doi:10.7503/cjcu20250100

Aggregation induced emission enhancement of ligand-engineered Au Nanoclusters

YE Weiqing^1,6, LU Hui², CHEN Wanjing¹, Li Ningjing¹, ZHANG Yu³, WANG Lihua⁴, LI Jiang⁴, ZHU Ying⁴, LI Mingqiang⁵, FAN Chunhai⁵, JIA Sisi², CHEN Jing⁴

1. Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2. Zhangjiang Lab
3. Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences
4. Institute of Materials Biology, School of Physics and Materials Science, Shanghai University
5. School of Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University 6. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

Received:2025-04-03 Revised:2025-04-18 Online First:2025-04-21 Published:2025-04-21
Contact: CHEN Jing E-mail:chenjing929@shu.edu.cn
Supported by:
Supported by the National Key Research and Development Program (No. 2023YFC3404200)

1. ESM to 20250100.pdf(1034KB)

Abstract

Abstract: The aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties of gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) exhibit significant potential for applications in bioimaging, chemical sensing, and optoelectronic devices. However, developing effective design strategies to achieve strong aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) in Au NCs remains a challenge. In this study, we report a ligand engineering approach to achieve remarkable AIE enhancement in Au8 nanoclusters. The quantum yield of aggregated Au8 NCs showed a ~ 90-fold increase compared to their solution state, with corresponding emission intensity enhancement reaching ~ 560-fold. Through combined optical characterization and metastable component tracking in aggregated systems, we elucidate the underlying AIEE mechanism. Both AIEE and crystallization-induced emission enhancement (CIEE) were activated through ligand engineering, which facilitated (1) shortened inter-cluster distances (from 1.31 nm to 0.72 nm) and (2) effective suppression of intermolecular rotational/vibrational relaxation. This steric-hindrance-reduction strategy establishes a new paradigm for precise modulation of photoluminescence in gold nanoclusters across both aggregated and crystalline states.

Key words: Ligand engineering, Photoluminescence, Aggregation induced emission, Atomically precise, Gold nanocluster

CLC Number:

O641.4

TrendMD:

YE Weiqing, LU Hui, CHEN Wanjing, Li Ningjing, ZHANG Yu, WANG Lihua, LI Jiang, ZHU Ying, LI Mingqiang, FAN Chunhai, JIA Sisi, CHEN Jing. Aggregation induced emission enhancement of ligand-engineered Au Nanoclusters[J]. Chem. J. Chinese Universities, doi: 10.7503/cjcu20250100.

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Aggregation induced emission enhancement of ligand-engineered Au Nanoclusters

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