One-Pot Synthesis, Photoluminescence, and Electrocatalytic Properties of Subnanometer-Sized Copper Clusters

Subnanometer-sized copper nanoclusters were prepared by a one-pot procedure based on wet chemical reduction. The structural characteristics of the 2-mercapto-5-n-propylpyrimidine-protected nanoclusters, Cu-n(n <= 8), were determined by mass spectrometry. The Cu nanoclusters displayed apparent luminescence, with dual emissions at 425 and 593 nm, with quantum yields of 3.5 and 0.9%, respectively, and high electrocatalytic activity in the electoreduction of oxygen.