Abstract:We are used to predict diamagnetic susceptibilities χ D to a good approximation by atomic increments since there is normally little dependence on the chemical environment. Surprisingly, we find from SQUID magnetization measurements that χ D per Pt atom of zeolite supported Pt 13 nanoclusters exceeds that of Pt 2+ ions by a factor of 37-50. The observation verifies an earlier theoretical prediction. The phenomenon is understood nearly quantitatively on the basis of a simple expression for diamagnetic susceptibility and the superatom nature of the 13-atom near-spherical cluster. The two main contributions come from ring currents in the delocalized hydride shell, the second one from cluster molecular orbitals hosting the Pt 5d and 6s electrons.Nanosize particles of metallic elements have attracted great attention since their properties often deviate markedly from those of the bulk metal. For example, micro-and nanosize platinum powder has been reported to become superconducting, [1][2][3] while bulk Pt does not. There are predictions that metal clusters with 10 2 -10 3 free carriers may become superconducting. [4] Furthermore, at low temperature, Pt nanoparticles and clusters show pronounced superparamagnetism, [5][6][7] whereas bulk Pt has a small positive magnetic susceptibility due to Pauli paramagnetism that is slightly temperature dependent. [8] Other work predicts a greatly enhanced diamagnetism in metal clusters, [9,10] but there has been no experimental verification of this. Diamagnetism is an important indicator of superconductivity as well, which raises the interest in this property for small clusters even further. However, since the London penetration depth of superconductors is normally on the order of 100 nm one should not expect to find an ideal diamagnetism with full exclusion of the magnetic field for objects of less than 1 nm diameter. Moreover, since magnetic properties reflect the wavefunction they are of general interest in physics as well as in chemistry.We have previously demonstrated that monodisperse icosahedral or cuboctahedral platinum nanoclusters with 13 ± 2 atoms can be prepared supported within the porous structure of NaY zeolite. [6] Although they are all of the same size they exist in three different magnetic states: 15-20% in a high-spin state with a magnetic moment of µ = 3.7 ± 0.4 and 3.0 ± 0.4 µ B for Pt 13 and Pt 13 H m , respectively, a very small fraction of <1% contributes to the spin-½ EPR signal, and the rest is diamagnetic. [7] The coexistence of different electronic states of the same cluster may be rationalized by different local environments, such as the presence of different numbers of zeolite framework Al atoms or extra framework cations, Na + or K + , in close proximity to the cluster, and the extent of hydrogen coverage will also play a role.Here we resume the subject of magnetism with these clusters using a specially synthesized iron-free L zeolite (Supporting Information) to avoid any interference of iron and ambiguities in the interpretation of the data...