Metal
nanoclusters (NCs) protected by a thiolate ligand are fascinating
for their unique geometrical structures and physicochemical properties.
Herein, a ligand-based strategy to tailor the structures and electrocatalytic
properties of self-assembled Cu NCs was proposed. By adjusting the
molar ratio of two protected ligands (2,3,5,6-tetrafluorothiophenol
and 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorothiophenol), the morphology of assembled
Cu NCs was changed from nanoribbons to ultrathin nanowires, nanonetworks,
and then to nanosheets, which was similar to the weaving process of
silk. When the fluorine substitution of thiophenol ligands increased
from tetrasubstitution to pentasubstitution, the composition, geometrical
structure, optical absorption spectrum, charge distribution, and electrostatic
potential of Cu NCs changed and then affected the assembled architectures
and the electrocatalytic activity of Cu NCs for glucose oxidation.
On the basis of the excellent electrocatalytic performance of assembled
Cu NCs, the as-prepared nanoribbons were successfully used for nonenzymatic
electrochemical detection of glucose with a wider linear range located
between 5 μM and 26 mM.