Charge state-dependent catalytic activity of [Au25(SC12H25)18] nanoclusters for the two-electron reduction of dioxygen to hydrogen peroxide

The electrochemical production of H2O2 from O-2 catalyzed by [Au-25(SC12H25)(18)] was studied as a function of the charge state (-1, 0 and +1). Maximum H2O2 production (similar to 90%) was obtained from the negatively charged clusters (Au-25(-)) due to the efficient electron transfer from the anionic Au-25(-) cluster into the LUMO (pi*) of O-2.