The reactivity of phenylethanethiolated gold nanoparticles with acetic acid

Abstract

We report the size-dependent reactivity of phenylethanethiolated gold nanoparticles with acetic acid. Employing this reactivity, we synthesize a novel nanocluster Au₃₈(PET)₂₆ (PET: phenylethanethiolate), which is otherwise difficult to obtain and exhibits remarkably different photoluminescence and electrochemical properties compared with the well-known Au₃₈(PET)₂₄ nanoclusters. And the reaction process between Au₃₈(PET)₂₆ and acetic acid was probed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry.