Synthesis, Stability, and Photoluminescence Properties of PdAu10(PPh3)8Cl2 Clusters

We report on the synthesis, stability, and photoluminescence (PL) properties of triphenylphosphine (PPh3)-stabilized PdAu10(PPh3)(8)Cl-2 cluster, which is a mono-Pd-doped cluster of the well-studied Au-11(PPh3)(8)Cl-2 cluster. The PdAu10(PPh3)(8)Cl-2 cluster was synthesized by simultaneously reducing two different metal complexes; AuCl(PPh3) and Pd(PPh3)(4). Experimental evaluation of the stability showed that PdAu10(PPh3)(8)Cl-2 is more stable against degradation in solution than the monometal Au-11(PPh3)(8)Cl-2 cluster. PL measurements revealed that PdAu10(PPh3)(8)Cl-2 exhibits PL at 950 nm with a quantum yield of 1.5 x 10(-3), which has not been observed for the monometal Au-11(PPh3)(8)Cl-2 cluster. The results indicate that Pd doping is a powerful method to produce clusters with higher stability and different physical properties than the monometal Au:PPh3 clusters.