Issue 26, 2017

Au33-S)(0e) elementary block: new insights into ligated gold clusters with μ3-sulfido motifs

Abstract

An understanding of the structural stability and formation mechanism of ligated gold nanoclusters with triply coordinated μ3-sulfido (μ3-S) motifs is important not only for gold chemistry but also for the design of more effective catalysts or drug carriers for various applications. In this article, a new elementary block Au33-S) with zero valence electrons [referred to as Au33-S)(0e)] has been identified, which describes all crystallized ligated gold clusters with μ3-S motifs, in conjunction with the previously reported Au3(2e) and Au4(2e) elementary blocks, in a grand unified model (GUM). This Au33-S)(0e) elementary block has a tripod structure with the S atom bonding to three Au atoms in a μ3 bridging mode, and can be considered as a μ3-S atom balancing out the 2e valence electrons of the Au3(2e) block. Using Au33-S) as a building block, a special group of quasi-fullerene hollow-cage [Au3n3-S)2n]n gold(I) μ3-S clusters are designed, which exhibit high stabilities. In addition, a series of theoretical structures are predicted to be increasingly stable after introducing μ3-S atoms, based on the crystallized clusters. Overall, the introduction of a Au33-S)(0e) elementary block can help with the understanding of diverse structures of ligated gold clusters with μ3-S motifs, thereby assisting the rational design of new forms of gold nanoclusters.

Graphical abstract: Au3(μ3-S)(0e) elementary block: new insights into ligated gold clusters with μ3-sulfido motifs

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 май 2017
Accepted
08 юни 2017
First published
09 юни 2017

Nanoscale, 2017,9, 8990-8996

Au33-S)(0e) elementary block: new insights into ligated gold clusters with μ3-sulfido motifs

W. W. Xu, X. C. Zeng and Y. Gao, Nanoscale, 2017, 9, 8990 DOI: 10.1039/C7NR03508J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements