title: Gold Doping of Silver Nanoclusters: A 26-Fold Enhancement in the Luminescence Quantum Yield.
abstract: A high quantum yield (QY) of photoluminescence (PL) in nanomaterials is necessary for a wide range of applications. Unfortunately, the weak PL and moderate stability of atomically precise silver nanoclusters (NCs) suppress their utility. Herein, we accomplished a ≥26-fold PL QY enhancement of the Ag29 (BDT)12 (TPP)4 cluster (BDT: 1,3-benzenedithiol; TPP: triphenylphosphine) by doping with a discrete number of Au atoms, producing Ag29-x Aux (BDT)12 (TPP)4 , x=1-5. The Au-doped clusters exhibit an enhanced stability and an intense red emission around 660 nm. Single-crystal XRD, mass spectrometry, optical, and NMR spectroscopy shed light on the PL enhancement mechanism and the probable locations of the Au dopants within the cluster.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Solar and Photovoltaics Engineering Research Center (SPERC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soldan
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Solar and Photovoltaics Engineering Research Center (SPERC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Maha A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Aljuhani
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Solar and Photovoltaics Engineering Research Center (SPERC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Megalamane S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bootharaju
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Solar and Photovoltaics Engineering Research Center (SPERC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Lina G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: AbdulHalim
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Solar and Photovoltaics Engineering Research Center (SPERC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Manas R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Parida
authors.affiliation: Imaging and Characterization Core Lab, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdul-Hamid
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Emwas
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Solar and Photovoltaics Engineering Research Center (SPERC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia. omar.abdelsaboor@kaust.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Omar F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Solar and Photovoltaics Engineering Research Center (SPERC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia. osman.bakr@kaust.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Osman M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Bakr
keywords: coordination modes; nanoalloys; nanoclusters; photoluminescence; supramolecular chemistry