Recent advances in the controlled synthesis and functional applications of luminescent metal nanoclusters

In a paper published in Science and Technology of Advanced Materials, researchers summarize recent advances in the controlled synthesis and application of luminescent metal nanoclusters, including potential uses in sensors, bioimaging, and energy harvesting and conversion.

Luminescent metal nanoclusters are a new class of materials consisting of several, to tens of, metal atoms. These materials not only provide the missing link between atomic and nanoparticle behaviors in metals, but also present abundant information for the development of new material systems to meet urgent needs in optical imaging and related areas.

Gold (Au) and silver (Ag) nanoclusters (NCs) have been extensively studied over the past decade. In sharp contrast, other types of nanoclusters – composed of platinum (Pt) or non-noble metals – received much less attention, although they demonstrate comparable or superior luminescent properties.

In this paper, published in Science and Technology of Advanced Materials, Hong-Tao Sun and Yoshio Sakka focus on luminescent NCs composed of Pt, molybdenum (Mo), bismuth (Bi) or more than one metal element, and compare their respective advantages and disadvantages. They also speculate on future research and discuss potential developments for their use in sensors, bioimaging, and energy harvesting and conversion.

Given the low-cost, excellent chemical stability, colloidal stability and photostability of the nanoclusters described in this paper, they may find a broad range of applications in optical imaging and related disciplines.

Author contact:

Hong-Tao Sun
College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science,
Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People’s Republic of China
E-mail: [email protected]

Yoshio Sakka
Advanced Ceramics Group, Materials Processing Unit,
National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS),
1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba-city, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
E-mail: [email protected]

Media Contact

Mikiko Tanifuji
Head of Scientific Information Office
National Institute for Material Science (NIMS)
Tsukuba, Japan
Phone: +81 29 859 2494
E-mail:[email protected]

Published: 06 Mar 2014

Contact details:

STAM editorial office

National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba-city Ibaraki 305-0047 JAPAN

+81-29-859-2494
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Websites: 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1468-6996/15/1/014205 Link to research paper in Science and Technology of Advanced Materials

Reference: 

Hong-Tao Sun and Yoshio Sakka: Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater. Vol. 15 (2014) p. 014205 http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1468-6996/15/1/014205

Advanced Materials