Analytical Characterization of Size-Dependent Properties of Larger Aqueous Gold Nanoclusters

Abstract

Gold nanoclusters (AuNC) with well-defined structure and arrangement possess particular physical and functional properties. AuNC that differ only by less than 1 nm in diameter corresponding to one atomic layer show different structural, optical and physicochemical properties in a size-dependent mode, making their analytical characterization a challenge. An integrative approach with UV-Vis, dynamic light scattering and zeta-potential in combination with high-performance analytical techniques such as multi-wavelength analytical ultracentrifugation and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry were used to separate and determine their specific hydrodynamic diameter, partial abundance, molecular weight and

MicroED Structure of Au146(p-MBA)57 at Subatomic Resolution Reveals a Twinned FCC Cluster

“…The gold nanoclusters were produced by two-phase method with some modifications (23,25,31,32). Stock solution of para-mercaptobenzoic acid (p-MBA) at 100 mM was prepared in 300 mM NaOH by vigorous stirring for at least 3 h or overnight and pulsed sonication.…”

Electrochemiluminescence of Glutathione‐Stabilized Au Nanoclusters Fractionated by Gel Electrophoresis in Water

“…In general, chemical synthesis of Au NCs produces atomically precise but polydisperse clusters despite some exceptions such as size‐focusing synthesis . Separating and precisely characterizing individual Au NC species are thus a crucial task but remain challenging, especially for water‐soluble clusters; the challenge arises from the fact that as‐synthesized Au NCs differ only by a few atomic layers and have a narrow size distribution . Recently, we reported the unusual generation of near‐IR ECL from orange fluorescent Au NCs that were synthesized in water using glutathione (GSH) as both the reducing agent and the stabilizer .…”

Atomic-level separation of thiolate-protected metal clusters

“…82 In this way, it is possible to isolate SR-protected metal clusters composed of various ligands and metal elements with atomic precision using PAGE. [83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101] By conducting research on a series of separated clusters, much knowledge has been obtained on the chemical composition and stability, electronic/geometrical structure, and physical properties of various SR-protected metal clusters.…”