Journal
CHEMICAL SCIENCE
Volume 12, Issue 38, Pages 12819-12826Publisher
ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
DOI: 10.1039/d1sc03679c
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- Guangzhou Science and Technology Plan Projects [201804010323]
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [91961121, 21773201]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
In this study, the first homoleptic alkynyl-protected AgCu superatomic nanocluster was reported, along with a similar structure bimetallic nanocluster. Despite the similar Ag-8 cube structure, subtle differences exist between the two clusters, resulting in significantly different optical absorbance features.
We report the first homoleptic alkynyl-protected AgCu superatomic nanocluster [Ag9Cu6((BuC)-Bu-t C)(12)](+) (NC 1, also Ag9Cu6 in short), which has a body-centered-cubic structure with a Ag-1@Ag-8@Cu-6 metal core. Such a configuration is reminiscent of the reported AuAg bimetallic nanocluster [Au-1@Ag-8@Au-6((BuC)-Bu-t C)(12)](+) (NC 2, also Au7Ag8 in short), which is also synthesized by an anti-galvanic reaction (AGR) approach with a very high yield for the first time in this study. Despite a similar Ag-8 cube for both NCs, structural anatomy reveals that there are some subtle differences between NCs 1 and 2. Such differences, plus the different M-1 kernel and M-6 octahedron, lead to significantly different optical absorbance features for NCs 1 and 2. Density functional theory calculations revealed the LUMO and HOMO energy levels of NCs 1 and 2, where the characteristic absorbance peaks can be correlated with the discrete molecular orbital transitions. Finally, the stability of NCs 1 and 2 at different temperatures, in the presence of an oxidant or Lewis base, was investigated. This study not only enriches the M-15(+) series, but also sets an example for correlating the structure-property relationship in alkynyl-protected bimetallic superatomic clusters.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available