The effect of deuterium on the photophysical properties of DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters

We investigated the effect of using D2O versus H2O as solvent on the spectroscopic properties of two NIR emissive DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters (DNA-AgNCs). The two DNA-AgNCs were chosen because they emit in the same energy range as the third overtone of the O-H stretch. Opposite effects on the ns-lived decay were observed for the two DNA-AgNCs. Surprisingly, for one DNA-AgNC, D2O shortened the ns decay time and enhanced the amount of mu s-lived emission. We hypothesize that the observed effects originate from the differences in the hydrogen bonding strength and vibrational frequencies in the two diverse solvents. For the other DNA-AgNC, D2O lengthened the ns decay time and made the fluorescence quantum yield approach unity at 5 degrees C.

Automated summary

This study found that using D2O and H2O as solvents has different effects on the spectroscopic properties of two DNA-AgNCs, with one DNA-AgNC having a shortened ns decay time in D2O and the other DNA-AgNC having a prolonged ns decay time and approaching unity in fluorescence quantum yield at 5 degrees C.