Influence of Halogen-Solvent Hydrogen Bonding on Gold Nanocluster Photoluminescence.

The influence of gold nanocluster-solvent interactions on nanostructure optical properties was determined. Using [Au(BINAP)X], where X = Cl or Br, as a model system, the dramatic influence of halogen-solvent hydrogen bonding on nanocluster optical properties was resolved. The creation of a nanocluster-solvent hydrogen-bond network yielded intense photoluminescence (PL) and an accompanying 2-fold reduction in vibration-mediated nonradiative decay rates.