Exploring the effects of intercluster torsion stress on Mn2+-related red emission from cluster-based layered metal chalcogenides

Abstract

Compared to typical Mn²⁺-doped II–VI nanocrystals with orange emission, Mn²⁺-doped II–III–VI metal-chalcogenide supertetrahedral nanoclusters with atomically precise structure have been proven to exhibit Mn²⁺-related red emission due to intrinsic intracluster torsion stress. How to explore and determine the effects of intercluster torsional strain on the Mn²⁺-related emission remains a challenge due to the lack of suitable structure models. Herein, two special nanocluster-based layered metal chalcogenides, composed of the same type of nanoclusters, but with different intercluster connections and a different-degree torsional structure, were created to explore the Mn²⁺-related photoluminescence emission. These current results clearly demonstrate that apart from the intracluster crystal lattice torsional strain, the intercluster torsion stress still serves as one of the major factors in effectively tuning Mn²⁺-related emission, and a larger intercluster torsion stress could lead to the redshift of the Mn²⁺-related emission.