Ligand exchange of Au₂₅SG₁₈ leading to functionalized gold clusters: spectroscopy, kinetics, and luminescence

Abstract

Ligand exchange offers an effective way to modify the properties of the recently prepared quantum clusters of gold. To tune optical and photoluminescence properties of one of the most stable quantum clusters of gold, Au₂₅SG₁₈ (SG-glutathione thiolate), we functionalized it by the exchange of -SG with functionalized -SG and with an altogether different ligand, namely, 3-mercapto-2-butanol (MB). The products were characterized by various techniques such as optical absorption (UV-vis), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray photoelectron (XPS), and luminescence spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, and thermogravimetry (TG). Analyses of the TG data helped to establish the molecular composition of the products. Ligand exchange reaction was monitored by NMR spectroscopy, and it was found that the exchange reaction follows a first order kinetics. The XPS study showed that after the exchange reaction there was no change in the chemical nature of the metal core and binding energy values of Au 4f_7/2 and 4f_5/2, which are similar in both the parent and the exchanged products. Photoluminescence studies of these clusters, done in the aerated conditions, showed that the excitation spectrum of the MB-exchanged product is entirely different from the acetyl- and formyl-glutathione exchanged products. The inherent fluorescence and solid-state emission of these clusters were observed. This intense emission allows optical imaging of the material in the solid state. The emission is strongly temperature dependent. The synthesis of a diverse variety of clusters and their chemical stability and intense luminescence offer numerous applications in areas such as energy transfer, sensors, biolabeling, and drug delivery.