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Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Synthesis of Ligand-free CdS Nanoparticles within a Sulfur Copolymer Matrix
Published on: May 1, 2016
Valence self-regulation of sulfur in nanoclusters
Xi Kang1, Fengqing Xu1, Xiao Wei1
1Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, P. R. China.
Abstract:
The valence self-regulation of sulfur from the "-2" valence state in thiols to the "-1" valence state in hydroxylated thiolates has been accomplished using the Pt1Ag28 nanocluster as a platform-the first time that the "-1" valent sulfur has been detected as S-1. Two previously unknown nanoclusters, Pt1Ag28(SR)20 and Pt1Ag28(SR)18(HO-SR)2 (where SR represents 2-adamantanethiol), have been synthesized and characterized-in the latter nanocluster, the presence of hydroxyl induces the valence regulation of two special S atoms from "-2" (in SR) to "-1" valence state in the HO-S(Ag)R. Because of the contrasting nature of the capping ligands in these two nanoclusters [i.e., only SR in Pt1Ag28(SR)20 or both SR- and HO-SR- in Pt1Ag28(SR)18(HO-SR)2], they exhibit differing shell architectures, even though their cores (Pt1Ag12) are in the same icosahedral configuration. Single-crystal x-ray diffraction analysis revealed their 1:1 cocrystallization, and mass spectrometry verified the presence of hydroxyls on Pt1Ag28(SR)18(HO-SR)2.
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