Horizontal expansion of biicosahedral M13-based nanoclusters: resolving decades-long questions

Nanoscale Horiz. 2022 Oct 24;7(11):1397-1403. doi: 10.1039/d2nh00321j.

Abstract

For metal nanoclusters with the "cluster of clusters" intramolecular evolution pattern, most efforts have been made towards the vertical superposition of icosahedral nanobuilding blocks (e.g., from mono-icosahedral Au13 to bi-icosahedral Au25 and tri-icosahedral Au37), while the horizontal expansion of these rod-shaped multi-icosahedral aggregates was largely neglected. We herein report the horizontal expansion of the biicosahedral M25 cluster framework, yielding an [Au19Ag12(S-Adm)6(DPPM)6Cl7]2+ nanocluster that contains an Au13Ag12 kernel and six Au1(DPPM)1(S-Adm)1 peripheral wings. The structural determination of [Au19Ag12(S-Adm)6(DPPM)6Cl7]2+ resolved a decades-long question towards rod-shaped multi-icosahedral aggregates: how to load bidentate phosphine and bulky thiol ligands onto the nanocluster framework? The structural comparison between [Au19Ag12(S-Adm)6(DPPM)6Cl7]2+ and previously reported [Au13Ag12(PPh3)10Cl8]2+ or [Au13Ag12(SR)5(PPh3)10Cl2]2+ rationalized the unique packing of Au1(DPPM)1(S-Adm)1 motif structures on the surface of the former nanocluster. Overall, this work presents the horizontal expansion of rod-shaped multi-icosahedral nanoclusters, which provides new insights into the preparation of novel icosahedron-based aggregates with both vertically and horizontally growing extensions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ligands
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds* / chemistry

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds