Controlled synthesis of pure Au25(2-Nap)18 and Au36(2-Nap)24 nanoclusters from 2-(diphenylphosphino)pyridine protected Au nanoclusters

Abstract

The controlled synthesis of pure Au₂₅(2-Nap)₁₈ and Au₃₆(2-Nap)₂₄ nanoclusters were achieved via etching 2-(diphenylphosphino)-pyridine protected polydispersed Au nanoclusters with a mass of 1 to 3 kDa. Au₂₅(2-Nap)₁₈ was obtained at the etching temperature of 80 °C, while Au₃₆(2-Nap)₂₄ was synthesized at the etching temperature of 50 °C. This demonstrates that the simple adjustment of the etching temperatures can realize the controlled synthesis of different atomically precise Au nanoclusters.