Thiolate-protected Ni39 and Ni41 nanoclusters: synthesis, self-assembly and magnetic properties

Abstract

Thiolate-protected soluble nickel clusters, Ni₃₉(SC₂H₄Ph)₂₄ and Ni₄₁(SC₂H₄Ph)₂₅, were synthesized via a wet chemical method. The cluster formulae were identified by MALDI-TOF. Possible structures of the clusters were discussed. These clusters exhibit ferromagnetism with hysteresis loops in the 1.8–300 K range. By solvent evaporation, the clusters can self-assemble into simple cubic structured crystals with a width in the range of 1–10 μm and length up to 300 μm. These properties shed light on their application potentials in nanomagnetics working at room temperature.