Synthesizing Photoluminescent Au₂₈ (SCH₂ Ph-^t Bu)₂₂ Nanoclusters with Structural Features by Using a Combined Method

We present a method for atomically precise nanocluster synthesis. As an illustration, we introduced the reducing-ligand induction combined method and synthesized a novel nanocluster, which was determined to be Au₂₈ (SCH₂ Ph-^t Bu)₂₂ with the same number of gold atoms as existing Au₂₈ (SR)₂₀ nanoclusters but different ligands (hetero-composition-homo-size). Compared with the latter, the former has distinct properties and structures. In particular, a novel kernel evolution pattern is reported, i.e., the quasi-linear growth of Au₄ -tetrahedron by sharing one vertex and structural features, including a tritetrahedron kernel with two bridging thiolates and two Au₆ (SCH₂ Ph-^t Bu)₆ hexamer chair-like rings on the kernel surface were also first reported, which endow Au₂₈ (SCH₂ Ph-^t Bu)₂₂ with the best photoluminescence quantum yield among hydrophobic thiolated gold nanoclusters so far, probably due to the enhanced charge transfer from the bi-ring to the kernel via Au-Au bonds.