An atomically precise all-tert-butylethynide-protected Ag-51 superatom nanocluster with color tunability

The tert-butylethynide ligand has been employed to construct an atomically precise all-tert-butylethynide-protected silver superatom nanocluster, Ag-51((BuC)-Bu-t?C)(32) (hereafter denoted as Ag-51). The identity of Ag-51 is confirmed by high resolution ESI-MS and elemental analysis. Single crystal X-ray analysis revealed that the structure of Ag-51 features a three-shell arrangement, Ag@Ag-8/Ag-6@Ag-36@C-24/C-8. Ag-51 exhibits a strong solvatochromic effect, and the emissions are strongly dependent on the solvent polarity and are tunable from blue to red by changing the solvent from less polar dichloromethane to highly polar methanol.