Isolation of the Au145(SR)60X compound (R = n-butyl, n-pentyl; X = Br, Cl): novel gold nanoclusters that exhibit properties subtly distinct from the ubiquitous icosahedral Au144(SR)60 compound. Issue 36 (9th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dainese, Tiziano; Antonello, Sabrina; Bonacchi, Sara; Morales-Martinez, Daniel; Venzo, Alfonso; Black, David M.; Mozammel Hoque, M.; Whetten, Robert L.; Maran, Flavio
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 13:Issue 36(2021)
• Page Start: 15394
• Page End: 15402
• Publication Date: 2021-09-09
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/d1nr04745k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : We isolated and characterized the thiolate-protected Au145 nanocluster. Au145 exhibits a behavior similar to that of Au144, but for its much more intense luminescence. Abstract : We report the identification and quantitative isolation of Au145 (SR)60 X (R = n -butyl, n -pentyl; X = halide) along with elucidation of key properties as compared to the corresponding ubiquitous chiral-icosahedral Au144 (SR)60 cluster known to have a central vacancy. The stoichiometries were assessed by electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) at isotopic resolution, and induced dissociation patterns indicate the 'extra' (Au, Br) atoms are strongly bound components of these structures. Voltammetric and spectroscopic characterization reveals Au145 (SR)60 X behaviors that are qualitatively similar to yet fascinatingly distinct from those of Au144 (SR)60 . ( 1 H, 13 C)-NMR spectra clearly show how both Au145 (SR)60 X and Au144 (SR)60 are capped by 12 distinct ligand types of 5-fold equivalence, as was recently established for Au144 (SR)60 capped by shorter ligands, demonstrating that this novel cluster shares the same chiral-icosahedral motif. Intriguingly, Au145 (SR)60 X is strongly near-IR luminescent, whereas under comparable conditions Au144 (SR)60 barely emits. The photoluminescence pattern of Au145 (SR)60 X is very similar to that observed for Au25 (SR)18, which contains the Au13 core. The combined results are interpreted as consistent with neutral Au145 (SR)60 X as a diamagnetic species, electronically and structurally similar to the corresponding Au144 (SR)60 compounds.