Covalent anchoring of atomically precise glutathione-protected gold nanoclusters on graphene oxide nanosheets

Franck Bertorelle (1, 2) , Srestha Basu (3) , Hussein Fakhouri (2) , Martina Perić Bakulić (3, 4) , Pierre Mignon (5) , Isabelle Russier-Antoine (1) , Pierre-François Brevet (1) , Sabu Thomas (6) , Nandakumar Kalarikkal (6, 7) , Rodolphe Antoine (2)

1 iLM - ONLI - iLM - Optique non linéaire et interfaces
2 iLM - SPECTROBIO - iLM - Spectrométrie des biomolécules et agrégats
3 ILM - Institut Lumière Matière [Villeurbanne]
4 ICAST - Ctr Excellence Sci & Technol Integrat Mediterrane
5 iLM - THEOCHEM - iLM - Physico-chimie théorique
6 IIUCNN - International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology [Mahatma Gandhi University]
7 School of Pure and Applied Physics

This paper describes the development of a novel method of producing nanocomposites consisting of gold nanoclusters anchored on graphene oxide nanosheets in a cost-effective and reproducible manner. The novelty of the technique hinges on the covalent functionalization of atomically precise subnanometer gold clusters protected by glutathione (Au₁₅SG₁₃ and Au₂₅SG₁₈) on to graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets according to the 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride crosslinking method, using the existing carboxylic groups present both at the surfaces of the nanoclusters and the GO nanosheets. The atomic precision of glutathione-protected gold nanoclusters was evidenced by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The formed hybrid nanocomposites were characterized by TEM measurements and exhibit nonlinear optical properties characteristic of GO, in particular a strong second harmonic scattering response as well as a multi-photon excited fluorescence spectrum characterized by a broad band in the visible range between 350 and 700 nm. Atomically precise nanoclusters covalently linked to GO nanosheets are therefore promising for new applications in the areas of optoelectronics and photovoltaics.

Mots clés: gold nanoclusters; nonlinear optics; optoelectronics; photovoltaics; graphene oxide

Domaines: Autre; Matériaux

Franck Bertorelle, Srestha Basu, Hussein Fakhouri, Martina Perić Bakulić, Pierre Mignon, et al.. Covalent anchoring of atomically precise glutathione-protected gold nanoclusters on graphene oxide nanosheets. Nano Express, 2020, 1 (3), pp.030005. ⟨10.1088/2632-959X/abbe31⟩. ⟨hal-02978403⟩