The crystalline nanocluster phase as a medium for structural and spectroscopic studies of light absorption of photosensitizer dyes on semiconductor surfaces

The crystalline nanocluster phase, in which nanoscale metal oxide clusters are self-assembled in three-dimensional periodic arrays, is described. The crystalline assembly of nanoparticles functionalized with technologically relevant ligands offers the opportunity to obtain unambiguous structural information that can be combined with theoretical calculations based on the known geometry and used to interpret spectroscopic and other information. A series of Tl/O clusters up to ∼2.0 nm in diameter have been synthesized and functionalized with the adsorbents catechol and isonicotinic acid. Whereas the isonicotinate is always adsorbed in a bridging monodentate mode, four different adsorption modes of catechol have been identified. The particles show a significantly larger variation of the Tl-O distances than observed in the known TiO₂ phases and exhibit both sevenfold overcoordination and five- and fourfold undercoordination of the Tl atoms. Theoretical calculations show only a moderate dependence of the catecholate net charge on the geometry of adsorption. All of the catechol-functionalized clusters have a deep-red color due to penetration of the highest occupied catechol levels into the band gap of the Tl/O particles. Spectroscopic measurements of the band gap of the Tl ₁₇ cluster are in good agreement with the theoretical values and show a blue shift of ∼0,22 eV relative to those reported for anatase nanoparticles.