A dual-emitting Cu6–Cu2–Cu6 cluster as a self-calibrated, wide-range luminescent molecular thermometer

Abstract

A tetradecanuclear copper(I) cluster compound, namely [Cu₆L₃(Cu₂I₂)Cu₆L₃] (H₂L = 3,5-bis((3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-4-yl)methyl)-2,6-dimethylpyridine), is synthesized. The high thermal stability, well-resolved blue/red dual emissions and two-way luminescent thermochromism warrant its self-calibrated temperature sensing ability, covering a wide range (120–450 K). These promising results are supported by combined structural, spectral and computational studies.