Total Structure and Electronic Properties of the Gold Nanocrystal Au36(SR)24

Authors: Chenjie Zeng, Huifeng Qian, Tao Li, Gao Li, Nathaniel L. Rosi, Bokwon Yoon, R. N. Barnett, Robert L. Whetten, Uzi Landman, Rongchao Jin - Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2012 cited by 575

A golden opportunity: the total structure of a Au(36)(SR)(24) nanocluster reveals an unexpected face-centered-cubic tetrahedral Au(28) kernel (magenta). The protecting layer exhibits an intriguing combination of binding modes, consisting of four regular arch-like staples and the unprecedented appearance of twelve bridging thiolates (yellow). This unique protecting network and superatom electronic shell structure confer extreme stability and robustness.