Abstract The synthesis of functional metal clusters has attracted the attention of
scientists from diverse fields over the past decades, due to promising optical properties associated with such structures, particularly their luminescence properties.
However, the synthesis of sub-nanometer metal clusters consisting of few atoms is
not straightforward due to the tendency of the clusters to aggregate, and thus rapidly
losing their peculiar optical features. One strategy to achieve the stabilization of
luminescent metal clusters is the use of zeolite frameworks that possess the appropriate molecular-sized pores and cages to confine metal clusters. Their cationexchange capacities facilitate the uptake of metal ions, and after an activation
procedure (heat treatment, photoactivation, X-ray irradiation), the formation of
highly luminescent metal clusters is promoted, whose size and optical properties
are controlled by the confinement environment. In this chapter, an up-to-date
overview of synthesis strategies to stabilize luminescent metal clusters (particularly
silver clusters) will be given, emphasizing the use of zeolites as confinement scaffolds. Moreover, several characterization strategies utilized in the study of silver
clusters confined in zeolites will be discussed, focusing on the challenging nature of
this task and the need for combinatorial approaches. Finally, emerging applications
of luminescent silver-zeolite systems will be discussed.
Keywords Cation exchange · Confined spaces · Luminescent silver clusters · Selfassembly · Ship-in-a-bottle strategy · Zeolites
Abbreviations
DFT
Density functional theory
EDX
Energy dispersive X-ray
EQE
External quantum efficiency
ESR
Electron spin resonance
EXAFS
Extended X-ray absorption fine structure
FAU
Faujasite zeolite
FT-IR
Fourier transformed infrared
HAADF-STEM High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron
microscopy
LED
Light emitting diode
LTA
Linde type A zeolite
LTL
Linde type L zeolite
MOF
Metal organic framework
MOR
Mordenite zeolite
NIR
Near infrared
NUV
Near ultraviolet
OLED
Organic light emitting diode
RHO
Rho zeolite
SOD
Sodalite zeolite
TEM
Transmission electron microscopy
76
E. Coutino-Gonzalez et al.
scientists from diverse fields over the past decades, due to promising optical properties associated with such structures, particularly their luminescence properties.
However, the synthesis of sub-nanometer metal clusters consisting of few atoms is
not straightforward due to the tendency of the clusters to aggregate, and thus rapidly
losing their peculiar optical features. One strategy to achieve the stabilization of
luminescent metal clusters is the use of zeolite frameworks that possess the appropriate molecular-sized pores and cages to confine metal clusters. Their cationexchange capacities facilitate the uptake of metal ions, and after an activation
procedure (heat treatment, photoactivation, X-ray irradiation), the formation of
highly luminescent metal clusters is promoted, whose size and optical properties
are controlled by the confinement environment. In this chapter, an up-to-date
overview of synthesis strategies to stabilize luminescent metal clusters (particularly
silver clusters) will be given, emphasizing the use of zeolites as confinement scaffolds. Moreover, several characterization strategies utilized in the study of silver
clusters confined in zeolites will be discussed, focusing on the challenging nature of
this task and the need for combinatorial approaches. Finally, emerging applications
of luminescent silver-zeolite systems will be discussed.
Keywords Cation exchange · Confined spaces · Luminescent silver clusters · Selfassembly · Ship-in-a-bottle strategy · Zeolites
Abbreviations
DFT
Density functional theory
EDX
Energy dispersive X-ray
EQE
External quantum efficiency
ESR
Electron spin resonance
EXAFS
Extended X-ray absorption fine structure
FAU
Faujasite zeolite
FT-IR
Fourier transformed infrared
HAADF-STEM High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron
microscopy
LED
Light emitting diode
LTA
Linde type A zeolite
LTL
Linde type L zeolite
MOF
Metal organic framework
MOR
Mordenite zeolite
NIR
Near infrared
NUV
Near ultraviolet
OLED
Organic light emitting diode
RHO
Rho zeolite
SOD
Sodalite zeolite
TEM
Transmission electron microscopy
76
E. Coutino-Gonzalez et al.