Dynamic Diglyme-Mediated Self-Assembly of Gold Nanoclusters

W. Scott Compel, O. Andrea Wong, Xi Chen, Chongyue Yi, Roy Geiss, Hannu Häkkinen, Kenneth L. Knappenberger, Christopher J. Ackerson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the assembly of gold nanoclusters by the nonthiolate ligand diglyme into discrete and dynamic assemblies. To understand this surprising phenomenon, the assembly of Au20(SC2H4Ph)15-diglyme into Au20(SC2H4Ph)15-diglyme-Au20(SC2H4Ph)15 is explored in detail. The assembly is examined by high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy, size exclusion chromatography, mass spectrometry, IR spectroscopy, and calorimetry. We establish a dissociation constant for dimer to monomer conversion of 20.4 μM. Theoretical models validated by transient absorption spectroscopy predict a low-spin monomer and a high-spin dimer, with assembly enabled through weak diglyme oxygen-gold interactions. Close spatial coupling allows electron delocalization between the nanoparticle cores. The resulting assemblies thus possess optical and electronic properties that emerge as a result of assembly.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11690-11698
Number of pages9
JournalACS nano
Volume9
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 3 2015

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Materials Science
  • General Engineering
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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