What protects the core when the thiolated Au cluster is extremely small?

De En Jiang, Wei Chen, Robert L. Whetten, Zhongfang Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

83 Scopus citations

Abstract

The title question is motivated by the fact that extremely small thiolated-gold clusters such as Au20(SR)16 have been isolated, but their undetermined structures cannot be fully rationalized by the present knowledge derived from single-crystal structures of larger clusters. One needs to go beyond the linear monomer (RSAuSR) and V-shaped dimer (RSAuSRAuSR) motifs that were found to protect larger clusters. We hypothesize that the U-shaped trimer motif (RSAuSRAuSRAuSR) is required to protect the core of some extremely small thiolated-gold clusters, which have about 20 or fewer Au atoms. We test this hypothesis by proposing structural models for Au 10(SR)8 based on two trimer motifs protecting a tetrahedral Au4 core and for Au20(SR)16 based on four trimer motifs protecting an Au8 core.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)16983-16987
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume113
Issue number39
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • General Energy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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