Alternating Array Stacking of Ag₂₆ Au and Ag₂₄ Au Nanoclusters

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

• Metal nanoclusters are promising nanomaterials with tunable properties.
• Controlling the self-assembly of nanoclusters is crucial for designing advanced materials.
• Electrostatic and weak interactions play a significant role in supramolecular assembly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel assembly strategy for metal nanoclusters.
• To investigate the formation of unusual alternating array stacking structures.
• To elucidate the influence of ligands and counterions on nanocluster self-assembly.

Main Methods:

• Utilized electrostatic interactions combined with weak interactions (C-H⋅⋅⋅π and π⋅⋅⋅π).
• Synthesized cationic [Ag26Au(2-EBT)18(PPh3)6]+ and anionic [Ag24Au(2-EBT)18]- nanoclusters.
• Characterized the resulting double nanocluster ion compound (DNIC) and single nanocluster ion compounds (SNICs) using crystallographic analysis.

Main Results:

• Achieved an unusual alternating array stacking structure of cationic and anionic nanoclusters.
• Synthesized a new compound type: double nanocluster ion compound [Ag26Au(2-EBT)18(PPh3)6]+[Ag24Au(2-EBT)18]-.
• Observed distinct assembly modes influenced by different ligands and counterions, as seen in [PPh4]+[Ag24Au(2-EBT)18]- and [PPh4]+[Ag24Au(2,4-DMBT)18]-.

Conclusions:

• The developed strategy effectively controls the self-assembly of metal nanoclusters.
• Ligands and counterions exert a significant influence on the packing and assembly modes of nanoclusters.
• This work provides insights into the rational design of complex nanocluster architectures.