Ag44(SR)30(4-): a silver-thiolate superatom complex
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Updated: May 21, 2026

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework
Published on: April 9, 2018
Kellen M Harkness1, Yun Tang, Amala Dass
1Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
Abstract:
Intensely and broadly absorbing nanoparticles (IBANs) of silver protected by arylthiolates were recently synthesized and showed unique optical properties, yet question of their dispersity and their molecular formulas remained. Here IBANs are identified as a superatom complex with a molecular formula of Ag(44)(SR)(30)(4-) and an electron count of 18. This molecular character is shared by IBANs protected by 4-fluorothiophenol or 2-naphthalenethiol. The molecular formula and purity is determined by mass spectrometry and confirmed by sedimentation velocity-analytical ultracentrifugation. The data also give preliminary indications of a unique structure and environment for Ag(44)(SR)(30)(4-).
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