Tunable photoluminescence for a novel silver–gold mixed metal system

A series of crystals of the type La[AgxAu1−x(CN)2]3, x = 0, 0.5, 0.9, 1.0, has been studied using both steady-state and time-resolved luminescence methods. The mixed Ag–Au samples display an anomalously strong luminescence at ambient temperatures. This luminescence is also strongly tunable in that changing physical parameters such as temperature, excitation wavelength or Ag/Au ratio results in changes in the emission energy of the sample.