A1 Journal article (refereed)
Reversible isomerization of metal nanoclusters induced by intermolecular interaction (2021)

Cao, Y., Malola, S., Matus, M. F., Chen, T., Yao, Q., Shi, R., Häkkinen, H., & Xie, J. (2021). Reversible isomerization of metal nanoclusters induced by intermolecular interaction. Chem, 7(8), 2227-2244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2021.06.023

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Cao, Yitao; Malola, Sami; Matus, María Francisca; Chen, Tiankai; Yao, Qiaofeng; Shi, Run; Häkkinen, Hannu; Xie, Jianping

Journal or series: Chem

ISSN: 2451-9308

eISSN: 2451-9294

Publication year: 2021

Volume: 7

Issue number: 8

Pages range: 2227-2244

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2021.06.023

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access:

Abstract

Most inorganic nanoparticles are directly surface terminated (and stabilized) by protecting ligands, which could greatly affect the atomic packing and physical/chemical properties of their inorganic cores. Here, we show that the intermolecular interactions between the adsorbed molecules and surface ligands can also affect the core structure of inorganic nanoparticles. Through the coupling/decoupling of cationic surfactants (cetyltrimethylammonium cations, CTA+) and anionic surface ligands (para-mercaptobenzoic acid, p-MBA) in the aqueous phase, we have achieved a reversible transformation between two isomers of [Au25(p-MBA)18]− nanoclusters. The interconversion process between the two isomers shows the characteristics of a reversible nanocluster isomerization process. The two isomers are topologically connected via a simple rotation of the gold core without breaking any Au-S bonds at the metal-ligand interface. The adsorbed CTA+ cations would interact with the p-MBA layer through the CH∙∙∙π interaction and stabilize the more open ligand shell of the new isomer in the forward isomerization process.

Keywords: nanoparticles; gold; clusters; ligands; isomerism; optical properties

Free keywords: metal nanoclusters; reversible isomerization; intermolecular interaction; gold nanoclusters; optical property; inorganic nanoparticles; Au25 nanocluster; sCH∙∙∙π interaction

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

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