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Updated: Dec 23, 2025
Synthesis, Characterization, and Functionalization of Hybrid Au/CdS and Au/ZnS Core/Shell Nanoparticles
Published on: March 2, 2016
A Sodalite-Type Silver Orthophosphate Cluster in a Globular Silver Nanocluster
Chenglong Deng1, Cunfa Sun1, Zhi Wang2
1Key Laboratory of Environmental Friendly Function Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, P. R. China.
Abstract:
The synthesis and structure of a giant 102-silver-atom nanocluster (NC) 1 is presented. X-ray structural analysis reveals that 1 features a multi-shelled metallic core of Ag6 @Ag24 @Ag60 @Ag12 . An octahedral Ag6 core is encaged by a truncated octahedral Ag24 shell. The Ag24 shell is composed of a hitherto unknown sodalite-type silver orthophosphate cluster (SOC) {(Ag3 PO4 )8 }, reminiscent of the Ag3 PO4 photocatalyst. The SOC is capped by six interstitial sulfur atoms, giving a unique anionic cluster [Ag6 @{(Ag3 PO4 )8 }S6 ]6- , which functions as an intricate polyhedral template with abundant surface O and S atoms guiding the formation of a rare rhombicosidodecahedral Ag60 shell. An array of 6 linear Ag2 staples further surround this Ag60 shell. [Ag6 @{(Ag3 PO4 )8 }S6 ]6- is an unusual Ag-based templating anion to induce the assembly of a SOC within silver NC. This finding provides molecular models for bulk Ag3 PO4 , and offers a fresh template strategy for the synthesis of silver NCs with high symmetry.
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