Ultrasensitive Luminescence Switching of Zeolite Y Confined Silver Clusters for Dual‐Channel Oxygen Sensing

Abstract Designing photoluminescence sensing devices for gaseous oxygen that combine ease of acquisition with efficient performance is a critical yet challenging task. Herein, a novel oxygen‐sensing probe based on zeolite Y confined silver clusters prepared via a simple approach, is proposed. The large Ag 6 clusters formed after hydrogenation exhibit a bright orange emission. They are characterized by a high photoluminescence quantum yield (≈31%) and a long luminescence decay time (>500 µs). A possible formation mechanism of these clusters, which are for the first time observed in Faujasite zeolites, is proposed. Luminescence switching‐off, triggered by oxygen, can be detected in a dual‐channel combination of linear emission‐quenching and lifetime‐reduction, enabling a visual and ultrasensitive (limit of detection of 58 Pa) quantitative detection of oxygen in a wide pressure range (0–100 kPa) with fast response (<1 s), reversibility and reproducibility. A more detailed analysis shows that this high sensitivity is due to the long decay time of the orange emission and the high affinity of the zeolite for O 2 adsorption rather than to a high rate constant for quenching. This work contributes to the development of optical oxygen sensing technology and lays the foundation for the design of silver cluster‐based zeolites for photo‐functional applications.