A temperature-sensitive luminescent Ag-20 nanocluster templated by carbonate in situ generated from atmospheric CO2 fixation

A drum-like Ag-20 nanocluster, [(CO32-)@Ag-20(SBut)(10)(DMF)(6)(NO3)(8)] (1), has been synthesized by the unexpected carbonate-templated self-assembly of AgNO3 and AgSBut precursor. Structural analysis reveals that 1 contains centrosymmetric drum-like Ag20S10 clusters constructed from two Ag5S5 pentagrams and a Ag-10 ring. The CO32- in situ generated from fixation of atmospheric CO2 lies on the center of the cluster and acts as an anion template to direct the formation of 1. Interestingly, bright-green photoluminescence of 1 is switched on when cooled with liquid nitrogen.