Atomically precise and monolayer protected iridium clusters in solution

Abstract

The first atomically precise and monolayer protected iridium cluster in solution, Ir₉(PET)₆ (PET – 2-phenyethanethiol) was synthesized via a solid state method. The absence of a plasmonic band at ∼350 nm, expected in the UV/Vis spectra for spherical Ir particles of 10 nm size indicated that the synthesized cluster is smaller than this dimension. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) showed that the cluster has a particle size of ∼2 nm in solution which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The blue emission of the cluster is much weaker than many noble metal clusters investigated so far. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements showed that all Ir atoms of the cluster are close to the zero oxidation state. The characteristic S–H vibrational peak of PET at 2560 cm⁻¹ was absent in the FT-IR spectrum of the cluster indicating RS–Ir bond formation. The molecular formula of the cluster, Ir₉(PET)₆ was assigned based on the most significant peak at m/z 2553 in the matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrum (MALDI MS), measured at the threshold laser intensity. Density functional theory calculations on small Ir@SCH₃ and Ir@PET clusters and comparison of the predictions with the IR and ¹H-NMR spectra of Ir₉(PET)₆ suggested that the PET ligands have two distinct structural arrangements and are likely to be present as bridging thiolates –(Ir–SR–Ir)– and singly attached thiolates –(Ir–SR).