Light-induced electron transfer in lead(II)gold(I) dicyanide

Abstract

Photoluminescence studies of Pb[Au(CN) 2] 2 are reported. Laser excitation of 337 nm for Pb[Au(CN) 2] at 78 K results in a decrease in luminescence intensity with increasing laser exposure time indicating the creation of non-luminescing species. Increasing the sample temperature to 300 K results in the non-luminescing species going back to the original Pb[Au(CN) 2] 2. Light-induced electron transfer in which Au(I) is reduced to Au(CN) 2 2− is assigned as the principal process responsible for the decrease in luminescence intensity of Pb[Au(CN) 2] 2 with increasing laser exposure at 78 K.