An Organometallic Strategy for Assembling Atomically Precise Hybrid Nanomaterials

Area of Science:

• Bioinspired synthesis
• Nanomaterials science
• Chemical synthesis

Background:

• Chemists aim to replicate natural systems using programmable inorganic nanomaterials.
• Thiol-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are versatile but lack atomic precision, limiting structure-function studies.
• Existing AuNPs offer limited control over surface topology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a bottom-up approach for assembling atomically precise hybrid nanoclusters.
• To mimic the ease of thiol-capped AuNP synthesis.
• To create well-defined covalent nanoscale assemblies with diverse surface topologies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a structurally characterized cluster-based organometallic building block.
• Employed a bottom-up assembly strategy.
• Systematic synthesis of nanoclusters.

Main Results:

• Achieved systematic synthesis of atomically precise hybrid nanoclusters.
• Produced well-defined covalent nanoscale assemblies with diverse surface topologies.
• Demonstrated multivalent binding capabilities to complex protein targets for the first time.

Conclusions:

• Developed a novel method for creating atomically precise nanoclusters.
• Enabled precise control over nanocluster surface topology.
• Opened new avenues for studying structure-function relationships and targeting complex proteins.