Toward the creation of stable, functionalized metal clusters

Abstract

Nanomaterials which exhibit both stability and functionality are currently considered to hold the most promise as components of nanotechnology devices. Thiolate (RS)-protected gold nanoclusters (Aun(SR)m) have attracted significant attention in this regard and, among these, the magic clusters are believed to be the best candidates since they are the most stable. We have investigated the effects of heteroatom doping, protection by selenolate ligands and protection by photoresponsive thiolates on the stability and physical/chemical properties of these clusters. Through such studies, we have attempted to establish methods of modifying magic Aun(SR)m clusters as a means of creating metal clusters that are both robust and functional. This paper summarizes our studies towards this goal and the obtained results.

Enhancing stability through ligand-shell engineering: A case study with Au25(SR)18 nanoclusters

“…with metals than thiolate ligands, which could intrinsically enhance the firmness of the NCs [30][31][32]. For example, Kurashige et al [33] applied selenolates as protecting ligands for Au 25 NCs, resulting in better stability in solution than for Au 25 NCs protected by thiolates.…”

Ultrafast Relaxation Dynamics of Luminescent Rod-Shaped, Silver-Doped AgxAu25–x Clusters

“…1 In recent years, replacing one or more gold atoms with other 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 4 metal elements (such as Ag, Pt and Cu) is used to modify physical and chemical properties of these gold nanoclusters and thus enhancing their luminescence. [20][21][22][23][24][25] As luminescence of these alloying AuNCs is closely related to the electronic structure, detailed understanding of their relaxation dynamics is necessary to rational design of alloying luminescent Au nanoclusters.…”

Optical properties of nanoalloys

“…Refs. 21,23,28 . Indeed, during the revision stage of the present perspective article, a further review has appeared on-line 70 .…”

“…Section 2 is then dedicated to a brief survey of this topic. Moreover, a sub-field evolving in a particularly tumultuous fashion among alloy nanosystems is that of monolayer-protected, size-selected clusters [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] . For clarity of presentation, we then single out these latter systems apart, so that in Section 3 we discuss other nanosystems, i.e., nanoclusters and nanorods or nanowires both free and in a less interacting environment, while Section 4 will be devoted to monolayer-protected alloy clusters, also providing a literature review of the explosive growth in this sub-field.…”