Observation of cluster size growth in CO-directed synthesis of Au25(SR)18 nanoclusters

ACS Nano. 2012 Sep 25;6(9):7920-7. doi: 10.1021/nn3023206. Epub 2012 Aug 27.

Abstract

The design of an efficient synthesis for large-scale production of atomically precise nanoclusters (NCs) is pivotal in realizing the size-dependent properties of the NCs. A simple and versatile method for producing atomically precise thiolated gold NCs (Au(25)(SR)(18) NCs) in large quantities (~200 mg) is demonstrated in this study. It uses a gaseous reducing agent, carbon monoxide (CO), to support a slow and size-controlled growth of Au(25)(SR)(18) NCs. Absorption measurements of the reaction solution, which underwent distinct color changes (colorless → yellow → orange → brown → red-brown), allowed the formation of thiolated Au(25) NCs to be reconstructed from several key intermediates. The unique reaction environment provided by gaseous CO presents a new synthetic route to fabricate atomically precise metal NCs in quantities large enough for application explorations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Monoxide / chemistry*
  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Particle Size
  • Strontium / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Gold
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Strontium