Controlling gold nanoclusters by diphospine ligands.

Area of Science:

• Inorganic Chemistry
• Nanomaterials Science
• Catalysis

Background:

• Gold nanoclusters are gaining attention for their unique catalytic and electronic properties.
• Precise control over the structure and surface of gold nanoclusters is crucial for understanding their behavior and applications.
• Diphosphine ligands play a key role in stabilizing and functionalizing gold nanoclusters.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a new, atom-precise gold nanocluster with a unique structural motif.
• To investigate the coordination behavior of bidentate diphosphine ligands with gold clusters.
• To identify potential active sites on the nanocluster surface for catalytic applications.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of the Au22 nanocluster using 1,8-bis(diphenylphosphino)octane (L(8)) ligands.
• Structure determination via single crystal X-ray crystallography.
• Characterization of the cluster assembly using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Main Results:

• A neutral Au22(L(8))6 nanocluster was successfully synthesized and structurally elucidated.
• The Au22 core comprises two Au11 units linked by four L(8) ligands, with two additional ligands coordinating bidentately.
• Eight uncoordinated gold atoms were observed at the interface of the Au11 units, exhibiting short Au-Au distances (2.64-2.65 Å).

Conclusions:

• The synthesized Au22(L(8))6 nanocluster represents a novel structure in atom-precise gold nanoparticle chemistry.
• The presence of uncoordinated gold atoms suggests potential for in situ catalytic activity.
• This finding opens new avenues for designing functional gold nanoclusters for catalysis and other applications.