Polymorphism of Ag₂₉(BDT)₁₂(TPP)₄³⁻ cluster: interactions of secondary ligands and their effect on solid state luminescence

Abstract

We present the first example of polymorphism (cubic & trigonal) in single crystals of an atomically precise monolayer protected cluster, Ag29(BDT)12(TPP)43-. We demonstrate that C-Hπ interactions of the secondary ligands (TPP) are dominant in a cubic lattice compared to a trigonal lattice, resulting in a greater rigidity of the structure, which in turn, results in a higher luminescence efficiency in it.