All-catecholate-stabilized black titanium-oxo clusters for efficient photothermal conversion.

The controlled synthesis of titanium-oxo clusters (TOCs) completely stabilized by organic dye ligands with high stability and superior light absorption remains a significant challenge. In this study, we report the syntheses of three atomically precise catechol (Cat)-functionalized TOCs, [Ti(Cat)(OEgO)(OEgOH)] (Ti2), [TiO(Cat)(PrO)(PrOH)] (Ti8), and [TiO(OH)(Cat)]·HO·PhMe (Ti16), using a solvent-induced strategy (HOEgOH = ethylene glycol; PrOH = isopropanol; PhMe = toluene). Interestingly, the TiO core of Ti16 is almost entirely enveloped by catechol ligands, making it the first all-catechol-protected high-nuclearity TOC.