Triple-Helical Assembly of Atomically Precise Silver Nanocluster-Assembled Material: A p-Type Semiconductor

Abstract

The construction of helical architectures from achiral building blocks remains a fundamental challenge in supramolecular and materials chemistry. We report the first triple-helical cluster-assembled material constructed entirely from achiral components via covalent coordination. Thiol-protected Ag12 nanoclusters are linked by a rigid 4,4′-bipyridine ligand to form a three-dimensional framework with a unique triple-helical topology. Structural analysis shows that the helicity arises solely from the spatial arrangement of cluster nodes and linkers, without chiral precursors or templates. The material exhibits p-type semiconducting behavior with a conductivity of ∼10–6 S/cm and hole mobility of ∼1.7 cm2/(V s), highlighting its potential for electronic and optoelectronic applications.