Ultra-Bright 2D Assembled Copper Nanoclusters: Fluorescence Mechanism Exploration and LED Application

Novel fluorescent nanomaterials have attracted enormous interests in the applications of illumination and display besides the traditional organic fluorophors. As potential alternatives, the environmental friendly fluorescent ultra-small organic-inorganic hybrid metal nanoclusters (size < 2 nm) is a series of powerful competitors used in illuminating field, on account of the non-poisonous, large amount of storage in earth, simple synthetic route, and relative low cost. The most important one, facile regulation of the fluorescence intensity and emission colors makes metal nanoclusters more attractive candidates for illumination application. Here, through ingeniously designing the structures of capping ligands, the highly bright copper nanoclusters are obtained, which further assemble into 2D ribbons with fluorescence quantum efficiency ascending to 36.4%. Last, the light emitting diodes with excellent performance are constructed, the emission wavelength locates at 650 nm in red region, which is suitable for plant illumination.