Amphiphilicity Regulation of AgI Nanoclusters: Self‐Assembly and Its Application as a Luminescent Probe. Issue 18 (4th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shen, Jinglin; Wang, Zhi; Xia, Congxin; Sun, Di; Yuan, Shiling; Xin, Xia
• Is Part Of: Chemistry. Volume 25:Issue 18(2019)
• Page Start: 4713
• Page End: 4721
• Publication Date: 2019-03-04
• Subjects: aggregation -- amphiphilicity -- self-assembly -- sensors -- nanoclusters; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.201805815
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0947-6539

Abstract

Abstract: Research on the self‐assembly of various amphiphilic molecules is a relatively new research area and of great significance. However, new kinds of metal‐nanocluster (NC)‐based amphiphilic molecule have rarely been explored. Herein, hydrophobic cation 1‐hexadecyl‐3‐methylimidazolium (C16 mim + ) was chosen to modify hydrophilic (NH4 )6 [Ag6 (mna)6 ] (Ag6 ‐NCs, H2 mna=2‐mercaptonicotinic acid) and Ag6 @C16 mim‐NCs were obtained. Ag6 @C16 mim‐NCs displayed thermotropic liquid crystal and thermofluorescent properties. Moreover, the Ag6 @C16 mim‐NCs exhibits benign amphiphilicity, and it can self‐assemble into ordered nanosheets and nanorods through aggregation in water/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) binary solvent mixtures, whereas single Ag6 ‐NCs do not. Meanwhile, the Ag6 @C16 mim‐NCs also displays aggregation‐induced emission properties owing to the restriction of intramolecular vibrations of the capping ligands. Furthermore, the luminescent aggregates could detect arginine selectively with the detection limit at 28 μm . This study introduces a new kind of metal‐NC‐based amphiphilic molecule in a supramolecular self‐assembly field, and they have potential to be used as optical materials in applied research. Abstract : Switch on the luminescence : Nanocluster‐based amphiphilic molecule Ag6 @C16 mim‐NC self‐assembles into nanosheets and nanorods in water/dimethyl sulfoxide binary solvent mixtures, and they show aggregation‐induced emission properties and can detect arginine selectively (see picture).