Copper(I) iodide/silver(I) iodide nanoparticles readily react with vapors of soft nucleophiles to produce a wide array of emission colors under UV irradiation. These color changes form the basis of a chemical sensor with potential medical, industrial, and military applications. We present the vapochromic response of pure CuI and mixed Cu<sub>x</sub>Ag<sub>1-x</sub>I nanoparticles to a number of nucleophiles to investigate the response as a function of Cu:Ag ratio. X-ray studies show that the change in luminescence upon exposure is the result of formation of discreet metal-iodide-nucleophile clusters on the nanoparticle surface. These clusters show variations on the metal-halide cubane structures, which are known for their bright emission via a metal-to-ligand charge transfer pathway. Currently, we are exploring the kinetic response of these mixed systems to determine the mechanism by which this reaction occurs, with the help of theoretical molecular modeling. This study optimizes mixed CuI:AgI nanoparticles in the design and development of inexpensive, flexible, wearable vapor sensors.

Vapochromic response of heterometallic nanoparticles in the design of chemical sensors

256th National Meeting (2018)

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