Controlled Synthesis of Au25 Superatom Using a Dendrimer Template

Superatoms are promising materials for their potential in elemental substitution and as new building blocks. Thus far, various synthesis methods of thiol-protected Au clusters including an Au-25 superatom have been investigated. However, previously reported methods were mainly depending on the thermodynamic stability of the aimed clusters. In this report, a synthesis method for thiol-protected Au clusters using a dendrimers template is proposed. In this method, the number of Au atoms was controlled by the stepwise complexation feature of a phenylazomethine dendrimer. Therefore, synthesis speed was increased compared with the case without the dendrimer template. Hybridization for the Au-25 superatoms was also achieved using the complexation control of metals.

Automated summary

This study proposes a method for synthesizing thiol-protected gold clusters using a dendrimer template, which successfully controls the number of Au atoms and synthesis speed. In addition, hybridization of Au-25 superatoms was achieved through the control of metal complexation.