Structure of the Au23−xAgx(S‐Adm)15 Nanocluster and Its Application for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants. Issue 33 (3rd July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Chao; Ren, Xiuqing; Lin, Feng; Fu, Xuemei; Lin, Xinzhang; Li, Tao; Sun, Keju; Huang, Jiahui
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 58:Issue 33(2019)
• Page Start: 11335
• Page End: 11339
• Publication Date: 2019-07-03
• Subjects: alloys -- nanoclusters -- photocatalysis -- thiols; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201904612
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: Ligands play an important role in determining the atomic arrangement within the metal nanoclusters. Here, we report a new nanocluster [Au23− x Ag x (S‐Adm)15 ] protected by bulky adamantanethiol ligands which was obtained through a one‐pot synthesis. The total structure of [Au23− x Ag x (S‐Adm)15 ] comprises an Au13− x Ag x icosahedral core, three Au3 (SR)4 units, and one AgS3 staple motif in contrast to the 15‐atom bipyramidal core previously seen in [Au23− x Ag x (SR)16 ]. UV/Vis spectroscopy indicates that the HOMO–LUMO gap of [Au23− x Ag x (S‐Adm)15 ] is 1.5 eV. DFT calculations reveal that [Au19 Ag4 (S‐Adm)15 ] is the most stable structure among all structural possibilities. Benefitting from Ag doping, [Au23− x Ag x (S‐Adm)15 ] exhibits drastically improved photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and phenol under visible‐light irradiation compared to Au23 nanoclusters. Abstract : The magic of bulky ligands : In contrast to the 15‐atom bipyramidal core in [Au23− x Ag x (SR)16 ], the structure of [Au23− x Ag x (S‐Adm)15 ] comprises an Au13− x Ag x icosahedral core, three Au3 (SR)4 units, and one AgS3 staple motif. Benefitting from Ag doping, [Au23− x Ag x (S‐Adm)15 ] exhibits drastically improved photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B and phenol under visible‐light irradiation compared to Au23 nanoclusters.