An ambient complexation reaction of zinc acetate and ascorbic acid leads to a new form of nanoscale particles with emergent optical properties

We report the formation of nanoscale particles from the complexation reaction between zinc acetate and ascorbic acid under ambient conditions and in an aqueous medium. The reaction led to the formation of a molecular complex with the formula Zn-x(AA)(y)(OAc)(z) (x, y, and z = possible smallest positive integer) with AA meaning ascorbate, based on the mass spectrometry results. Following this, the formation of luminescent nanoscale particles - the size of which increased with time - was observed. During 24 h of observation, the sizes increased to about 50 nm in the presence of different sizes at all times. Transmission electron microscopy results also indicated the formation of polycrystalline as well as amorphous nanoparticles in the medium. Further, the appearance of a UV absorption peak at 380 nm and photoluminescence peak at 473 nm marked the formation of the nanoparticles. The luminescence was also observed to be wavelength tuneable. FTIR and NMR spectroscopy results also supported the formation of a molecular complex with the above formula. The present work highlights the importance of emergent properties of nanoscale molecular materials for crystallization. Also, the present discovery is expected to contribute to the development of safe nanomaterials.