Efficient Synthesis, Optical Characterization, and Single-Particle Dynamics of Metal Nanoclusters

Thomas J. Kempa
Boston College

We present a facile and efficient technique for the production of stable, monodisperse metal nanoclusters with diameters of 1 nm. Through substitution of various surfactant stabilizer molecules, we are able to precisely tune the size of the clusters over a small range of diameters and still ensure monodispersity and stability. These clusters exhibit highly efficient, polarized luminescence upon two photon excitation at 800 nm. The clusters have high photostability and do not exhibit the deleterious blinking that occurs with many single-molecule probes. To demonstrate the utility of these clusters as single-molecule probes, we track their three-dimensional orientations over long periods in deeply supercooled liquids.