Post-Synthesis Modification of Photoluminescent and Electrochemiluminescent Au Nanoclusters with Dopamine

Here, we report a post-synthesis functionalization of the shell of Au nanoclusters (NCs) synthesized using glutathione as a thiolate ligand. The as-synthesized Au NCs are subjected to the post-synthesis functionalization via amidic coupling of dopamine on the cluster shell to tailor photoluminescenc...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jae Hyun Kim, Joohoon Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
Series:Nanomaterials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/1/46
Description
Summary:Here, we report a post-synthesis functionalization of the shell of Au nanoclusters (NCs) synthesized using glutathione as a thiolate ligand. The as-synthesized Au NCs are subjected to the post-synthesis functionalization via amidic coupling of dopamine on the cluster shell to tailor photoluminescence (PL) and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) features of the Au NCs. Because the NCs’ PL at <i>ca</i>. 610 nm is primarily ascribed to the Au(I)-thiolate (SG) motifs on the cluster shell of the NCs, the post-synthesis functionalization of the cluster shell enhanced the PL intensity of the Au NCs via rigidification of the cluster shell. In contrast to the PL enhancement, the post-synthesis modification of the cluster shell does not enhance the near-infrared (NIR) ECL of the NCs because the NIR ECL at <i>ca</i>. 800 nm is ascribed to the Au(0)-SG motifs in the metallic core of the NCs.
ISSN:2079-4991