Cu2+ induced formation of Au44(SC2H4Ph)32 and its high catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol at low temperature

Abstract

A new nanocluster of atomic precision, Au₄₄(SC₂H₄Ph)₃₂, is obtained by an oxidation–decomposition–recombination (ODR) process from Au₂₅(SC₂H₄Ph)₁₈ under mild conditions with high yield (75%). Among the investigated gold nanoclusters, Au₄₄(SC₂H₄Ph)₃₂ exhibits the highest catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, especially at low temperature, indicating that the catalytic properties of gold nanoclusters are not only size-dependent, but also structure-sensitive.