Manipulation of Inorganic Atomic-Layer Networks by Solution-Phase Co-assembly

Abstract

Homogeneous 2D lamellar assemblies of Au^I thiolate coordination polymer (ATCP) were obtained by two-ligand co-assembly. The orbital levels and the bandgap of the 2D Au^I -S network in the centre of the lamellae can be continuously tuned by means of the capping ligands on both sides, to give a new type of inorganic-organic composite semiconductor, the band structure of which can be easily tuned by low-temperature solution-phase co-assembly. Furthermore, the chemical reactivity of these ATCP co-assemblies also proved to be strongly dependent on the organic substituents, with well-tuneable transformation rates to gold nanoparticles. Apparently, this is the first work to demonstrate how organic substituents can continuously tune the electron band structure and chemical reactivity of inorganic atomic layers of semiconductor through co-assembly.

Keywords: S ligands; coordination polymers; gold; nanostructures; self-assembly.