ligand-mediated-nucleation-and-growth-of-palladium-metal-nanoparticles

Ligand-Mediated Nucleation and Growth of Palladium Metal Nanoparticles

The size, size distribution and stability of colloidal nanoparticles are greatly affected by the presence of capping ligands. Despite the key contribution ...

Los Alamos National Laboratory

We study the effect of thiols on the emission efficiency of aqueous CdSe/ZnS core/shell nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs). We observe that the impact of thiol addition on emission quantum yields (QYs) is time-, concentration-, and pH-dependent. Further, we use a combination of time-resolved spectroscopic methods to determine the mechanism by which thiol addition can cause either increases or decreases in QYs. Specifically, through transient absorption measurements, we show that thiol addition can improve passivation of electron traps, increasing QYs at low thiol concentrations. Further, using nanosecond photoluminescence (PL), we observe that at higher thiol concentrations, hole traps are introduced that reduce PL QYs. Last, through a combination of pH-dependence and control studies (e.g., addition of 2-methyl thioethanol to an aqueous NQD solution and addition of dodecanethiol to a hexane NQD solution), we demonstrate that it is the ability of thiols in aqueous solution to generate thiolate that is the source of both favorable and adverse QY changes. Our results contribute to the understanding of the role of surface ligands, which is critical to the design of stable, high-quantum-yield, nonblinking NQDs.

Effect of the thiol-thiolate equilibrium on the photophysical properties of aqueous CdSe/ZnS nanocrystal quantum dots.

We observe ultrafast 1P-to-1S intraband relaxation in PbSe and CdSe nanocrystals (NCs) that have distinct energy spectra. While ultrafast dynamics in CdSe NCs has typically been interpreted in terms of electron-hole energy transfer, this mechanism is not active in PbSe NCs because of sparse densities of states in the conduction and valence bands. Our observations of temperature activation and confinement-enhanced relaxation in PbSe NCs can be explained by efficient multiphonon emission triggered by nonadiabatic electron-phonon interactions and are indicative of large, size-dependent, intraband Huang-Rhys parameters.

Breaking the phonon bottleneck in semiconductor nanocrystals via multiphonon emission induced by intrinsic nonadiabatic interactions.

We study theoretically two electron-hole pair states (biexcitons) in core/shell hetero-nanocrystals with type II alignment of energy states, which promotes spatial separation of electrons and holes. To describe Coulomb interactions in these structures, we apply first-order perturbation theory, in which we use an explicit form of the Coulomb-coupling operator that takes into account interface-polarization effects. This formalism is used to analyze the exciton-exciton interaction energy as a function of the core and shell sizes and their dielectric properties. Our analysis shows that the combined contributions from quantum and dielectric confinement can result in strong exciton-exciton repulsion with giant interaction energies on the order of 100 meV. Potential applications of strongly interacting biexciton states include such areas as lasing, nonlinear optics, and quantum information.

Effect of quantum and dielectric confinement on the exciton-exciton interaction energy in type II core/shell semiconductor nanocrystals.

Nanocrystal quantum dots have favourable light-emitting properties. They show photoluminescence with high quantum yields, and their emission colours depend on the nanocrystal size--owing to the quantum-confinement effect--and are therefore tunable. However, nanocrystals are difficult to use in optical amplification and lasing. Because of an almost exact balance between absorption and stimulated emission in nanoparticles excited with single electron-hole pairs (excitons), optical gain can only occur in nanocrystals that contain at least two excitons. A complication associated with this multiexcitonic nature of light amplification is fast optical-gain decay induced by non-radiative Auger recombination, a process in which one exciton recombines by transferring its energy to another. Here we demonstrate a practical approach for obtaining optical gain in the single-exciton regime that eliminates the problem of Auger decay. Specifically, we develop core/shell hetero-nanocrystals engineered in such a way as to spatially separate electrons and holes between the core and the shell (type-II heterostructures). The resulting imbalance between negative and positive charges produces a strong local electric field, which induces a giant ( approximately 100 meV or greater) transient Stark shift of the absorption spectrum with respect to the luminescence line of singly excited nanocrystals. This effect breaks the exact balance between absorption and stimulated emission, and allows us to demonstrate optical amplification due to single excitons.

Single-exciton optical gain in semiconductor nanocrystals.

We report a two-step synthesis of highly luminescent CdS/ZnSe core/shell nanocrystals (emission quantum yields up to 50%) that can produce efficient spatial separation of electrons and holes between the core and the shell (type-II localization regime). Our synthesis involves fabrication of cubic-singony CdS core particles that are subsequently overcoated with a layer of ZnSe in the presence of surfactant-ligands in a noncoordinating solvent. Studies of different growth regime of the ZnSe shell indicate that one approach to obtaining high emission efficiencies is through alloying the CdS/ZnSe interface with CdSe, which leads to the formation of an intermediate ZnCdSe layer with a graded composition. We perform theoretical modeling of these core/shell nanocrystals using effective mass approximation and applying first-order perturbation theory for treating both direct electron-hole coupling and the core/shell interface-polarization effects. Using this model we determine the range of geometrical parameters of the core/shell structures that result in a type-II localization regime. We further applied this model to evaluate the degree of electron-hole spatial separation (quantified in terms of the electron-hole overlap integral) based on measured emission wavelengths. We also discuss the potential applicability of these nanocrystals in lasing technologies and specifically the possibility of single-exciton optical gain in type-II nanostructures.

Type-II core/shell CdS/ZnSe nanocrystals: synthesis, electronic structures, and spectroscopic properties.

Colloidal quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) which have stimulated a great deal of research and have attracted technical interest in recent years due to their chemical stability and the tunability of photophysical properties. While internal structure of large quantum dots is similar to bulk, their surface structure and passivating role of capping ligands (surfactants) are not fully understood to date. We apply ab initio wavefunction methods, density functional theory, and semiempirical approaches to study the passivation effects of substituted phosphine and amine ligands on the minimal cluster Cd(2)Se(2), which is also used to benchmark different computational methods versus high level ab initio techniques. Full geometry optimization of Cd(2)Se(2) at different theory levels and ligand coverage is used to understand the affinities of various ligands and the impact of ligands on cluster structure. Most possible bonding patterns between ligands and surface CdSe atoms are considered, including a ligand coordinated to Se atoms. The degree of passivation of Cd and Se atoms (one or two ligands attached to one atom) is also studied. The results suggest that B3LYP/LANL2DZ level of theory is appropriate for the system modeling, whereas frequently used semiempirical methods (such as AM1 and PM3) produce unphysical results. The use of hydrogen atom for modeling of the cluster passivating ligands is found to yield unphysical results as well. Hence, the surface termination of II-VI semiconductor NCs with hydrogen atoms often used in computational models should probably be avoided. Basis set superposition error, zero-point energy, and thermal corrections, as well as solvent effects simulated with polarized continuum model are found to produce minor variations on the ligand binding energies. The effects of Cd-Se complex structure on both the electronic band gap (highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy difference) and ligand binding energies are systematically examined. The role played by positive charges on ligand binding is also explored. The calculated binding energies for various ligands L are found to decrease in the order OPMe(3)>OPH(3)>NH(2)Me>/=NH(3)>/=NMe(3)>PMe(3)>PH(3) for neutral clusters and OPMe(3)>OPH(3)>PMe(3)>/=NMe(3)>/=NH(2)Me>/=NH(3)>PH(3) and OPMe(3)>OPH(3)>NH(2)Me>/=NMe(3)>/=PMe(3)>/=NH(3)>PH(3) for single and double ligations of positively charged Cd(2)Se(2) (2+) cluster, respectively.

Quantum chemistry of the minimal CdSe clusters.

We investigate the impact of ligands on the morphology, electronic structure, and optical response of the Cd(33)Se(33) cluster, which overlaps in size with the smallest synthesized CdSe nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs). Our density functional theory calculations demonstrate significant surface reorganization for both the bare cluster and the cluster capped with amine or phosphine oxide model ligands. We observe strong surface-ligand interactions leading to substantial charge redistribution and polarization effects on the surface. These effects result in the development of hybridized states, for which the electronic density is spread over the cluster and the ligands. The loss of one of the passivating ligands leads to either optically dark or bright additional states inside of the band gap, depending on the position of the leaving ligand on the QD surface. However, for fully ligated QDs, neither the ligand-localized nor hybridized molecular orbitals appear as trap states inside or near the band gap of the QD. Instead, being mostly optically dark, dense hybridized states could open new relaxation channels for high-energy photoexcitations. Comparing QDs passivated by different ligands, we also found that hybridized states are denser at the edge of the conduction band of the cluster ligated with phosphine oxide molecules than that with primary amines. Such a different manifestation of ligand binding may potentially lead to faster electron relaxation in QDs passivated by phosphine oxide than by amine ligands.

Effect of surface ligands on optical and electronic spectra of semiconductor nanoclusters.

The title compound, [AuCl(C(18)H(21)P)], a monomeric two-coordinate gold(I) complex, has been characterized at 100 K as two distinct monoclinic polymorphs, one from a single crystal, (Is), and one from a pseudo-merohedrally twinned crystal, (It). The molecular structures in the two monoclinic [P2(1)/n for (Is) and P2(1)/c for (It)] polymorphs are similar; however, the packing arrangements in the two lattices differ considerably. The structure of (It) is pseudo-merohedrally twinned by a twofold rotation about the a* axis.

Two polymorphs of chlorido(cyclohexyldiphenylphosphine)gold(I).

Geometries, ligand binding energies, electronic structure, and excitation spectra are determined for Au(4)(PR(3))(4)(2+) and Au(4)(μ(2)-I)(2)(PR(3))(4) clusters (R = PH(3), PMe(3), and PPh(3)). Density functionals including SVWN5, Xα, OPBE, LC-ωPBE, TPSS, PBE0, CAM-B3LYP, and SAOP are employed with basis sets ranging from LANL2DZ to SDD to TZVP. Metal--metal and metal--ligand bond distances are calculated and compared with experiment. The effect of changing the phosphine ligands is assessed for geometries and excitation spectra. Standard DFT and hybrid ONIOM calculations are employed for geometry optimizations with PPh(3) groups. The electronic structure of the gold--phosphine clusters examined in this work is analyzed in terms of cluster ("superatom") orbitals and d-band orbitals. Transitions out of the d band are significant in the excitation spectra. The use of different basis sets and DFT functionals leads to noticeable variations in the relative intensities of strong transitions, although the overall spectral profile remains qualitatively unchanged. The replacement of PMe(3) with PPh(3) changes the nature of the electronic transitions in the cluster due to low-lying π*-orbitals. To reproduce the experimental geometries of clusters with PPh(3) ligands, computationally less expensive PH(3) or PMe(3) ligands are sufficient for geometry optimizations. However, to predict cluster excitation spectra, the full PPh(3) ligand must be considered.

Density functional analysis of geometries and electronic structures of gold-phosphine clusters. The case of Au4(PR3)42+ and A(u4μ2-I)2(PR3)4.

This first homopalladium carbido cluster, {Pd4(μ4-C)}Pd32(CO)28(PMe3)14 (1), was isolated (3-7% yields) from an ultimately simplified procedure-the reaction of CHCl3 under N2 with either Pd8(CO)8(PMe3)7 or Pd10(CO)12(PMe3)6 at room temperature. Charge-coupled device (CCD) X-ray diffraction data at 100 K for 1·2.5 C6H14 (1a) and 1·3 CHCl3 (1b) produced closely related molecular parameters for 1. This {Pd4C}Pd32 cluster (1) possesses a highly unusual tetracoordinated carbide atom that causes a major distortion of a central regular Pd4 tetrahedron into a new symmetry type of encapsulated Pd4 cage of pseudo-D2 (222) symmetry. Mean Pd-Pd distances for the three pairs of opposite twofold-equivalent Pd-Pd tetrahedral-like edges for 1a are 2.71, 2.96, and 3.59 Å; the mean of the four Pd-C distances [range, 1.87(2)-1.94(2) Å] is 1.91 Å. An astonishing molecular feature is that this {Pd4C}Pd32 cluster (1) is an isostructural and electronically equivalent analogue of the nanosized Au4Pd32(CO)28(PMe3)14 (2). Cluster 2, likewise a pseudo-D2 molecule, contains a geometrically analogous tetrahedrally deformed interior Au4 entity encapsulated within an identical Pd32(CO)28(PMe3)14 shell; mean distances for the three corresponding symmetry-equivalent pairs of slightly smaller opposite tetrahedral-distorted Au-Au edges are 2.64, 2.90, and 3.51 Å. A computational study by both a natural population analysis (NPA) and an atoms-in-molecules (AIM) method performed on model analogues {Pd4C}Pd32(CO)28(PH3)14 (1-mod) and Au4Pd32(CO)28(PH3)14 (2-mod) suggested that the negatively charged Au4 entity in 2-mod may be described as two weakly interacting electron-pair Au2 intradimers. In contrast, an NPA of the {Pd4C} entity in 1-mod revealed that two similarly oriented identical Pd2 intradimers of 2.71 Å are primarily stabilized by Pd-C bonding with a negatively charged carbide atom. The isostructural stabilizations of 1 and 2 are then attributed to the similar sizes, shapes, and overall negative charge distributions of the electronically equivalent interior {Pd4C} and Au4 entities. This resulting remarkable structural/electronic equivalency between 1 and 2 is consistent with the greatly improved performances of commercial palladium catalysts for vinyl acetate synthesis by gold-atom incorporation to suppress carbonization of the Pd atoms, namely, that the extra Au 6s(1) valence electron of each added Au atom provides an effective "negative charge protection" against electron-donating carbon atoms forming Pd carbido species such as {Pd4C}. 

Nanosized {Pd4(μ4-C)}Pd32(CO)28(PMe3)14 Containing Tetrahedrally Deformed Pd4 Cage with Encapsulated Carbide Atom: Formal Substitution of Geometrically Analogous Interior Au4 Entity in Isostructural Au4Pd32(CO)28(PMe3)14 by Electronically Equivalent Pd4(μ4-C) and Computational/Catalytic Implications.

We present the first successful isolation and crystallographic characterization of a Mackay 55-metal-atom two-shell icosahedron, Pd55L12(μ3-CO)20 (L = PPr(i)3) (1). Its two-shell icosahedron of pseudo-Ih symmetry (without isopropyl substituents) enables a structural/bonding comparison with interior 55-metal-atom two-shell icosahedral geometries observed within the multi-shell capped 145-metal-atom three-shell Pd145(CO)72(PEt3)30 and 165-metal-atom four-shell Pt-centered (μ12-Pt)Pd164-xPtx(CO)72(PPh3)20 (x ≈ 7) nanoclusters, and within the recently reported four-shell Au133(SC6H4-p-Bu(t))52 nanocluster. DFT calculations carried out on a Pd55(CO)20(PH3)12 model analogue, with triisopropyl phosphine substituents replaced by H atoms, revealed a positive +0.84 e charge for the entire Pd55 core, with a highly positive second-shell Pd42 surface of +1.93 e. 

Isolation and Structural Characterization of a Mackay 55-Metal-Atom Two-Shell Icosahedron of Pseudo-Ih Symmetry, Pd55L12(μ3-CO)20 (L = PR3, R = Isopropyl): Comparative Analysis with Interior Two-Shell Icosahedral Geometries in Capped Three-Shell Pd145, Pt-Centered Four-Shell Pd-Pt M165, and Four-Shell Au133 Nanoclusters.

The most commonly used method for the formation of well-defined iron and iron-containing heterometallic nanoparticles is the thermal decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl (Fe(CO)). However, iron pentacarbonyl is highly toxic and volatile, which introduces safety concerns and drastically diminishes control over the reaction stoichiometry. Here we alleviate these issues by beginning with an easy-to-handle solid, triiron dodecacarbonyl (Fe(CO)). The issue of poor solubility of this cluster is addressed by its reaction with amine, which renders the cluster fully soluble in common high boiling point solvents. This reaction generates non-volatile anionic iron carbonyl species in solution which are subsequently used as the nanoparticle precursor. We demonstrate that the thermolysis of this novel precursor solution yields well-defined Fe, FeCo, and FePt nanoparticles. In addition, the same approach overcomes the solubility issue of another poorly soluble iron carbonyl compound, diiron nonacarbonyl (Fe(CO)). By using these precursors in an array of nanoparticle-forming reactions, we demonstrate a convenient replacement for the commonly used Fe(CO), producing particles of similar quality, but without the drawbacks of the precursor volatility and high toxicity.

Article	Year
Effect of the thiol-thiolate equilibrium on the photophysical properties of aqueous CdSe/ZnS nanocrystal quantum dots. Journal of the American Chemical Society\| PubMed ID: 16028897	2005
Breaking the phonon bottleneck in semiconductor nanocrystals via multiphonon emission induced by intrinsic nonadiabatic interactions. Physical review letters\| PubMed ID: 16384000	2005
Effect of quantum and dielectric confinement on the exciton-exciton interaction energy in type II core/shell semiconductor nanocrystals. Nano letters\| PubMed ID: 17212448	2007
Single-exciton optical gain in semiconductor nanocrystals. Nature\| PubMed ID: 17522678	2007
Type-II core/shell CdS/ZnSe nanocrystals: synthesis, electronic structures, and spectroscopic properties. Journal of the American Chemical Society\| PubMed ID: 17727285	2007
Quantum chemistry of the minimal CdSe clusters. The Journal of chemical physics\| PubMed ID: 19044794	2008
Effect of surface ligands on optical and electronic spectra of semiconductor nanoclusters. Journal of the American Chemical Society\| PubMed ID: 19425603	2009
Two polymorphs of chlorido(cyclohexyldiphenylphosphine)gold(I). Acta crystallographica. Section C, Crystal structure communications\| PubMed ID: 20203394	2010
Density functional analysis of geometries and electronic structures of gold-phosphine clusters. The case of Au4(PR3)42+ and A(u4μ2-I)2(PR3)4. The journal of physical chemistry. A\| PubMed ID: 21678946	2011
Nanosized {Pd4(μ4-C)}Pd32(CO)28(PMe3)14 Containing Tetrahedrally Deformed Pd4 Cage with Encapsulated Carbide Atom: Formal Substitution of Geometrically Analogous Interior Au4 Entity in Isost... Inorganic chemistry\| PubMed ID: 25946428	2015
Isolation and Structural Characterization of a Mackay 55-Metal-Atom Two-Shell Icosahedron of Pseudo-Ih Symmetry, Pd55L12(μ3-CO)20 (L = PR3, R = Isopropyl): Comparative Analysis with Interior... Journal of the American Chemical Society\| PubMed ID: 26790717	2016
Non-volatile iron carbonyls as versatile precursors for the synthesis of iron-containing nanoparticles. Nanoscale\| PubMed ID: 28304414	2017

Sergei Ivanov

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