Tunable Aminooxy-Functionalized Monolayer-Protected Gold Clusters for Non-Polar or Aqueous Oximation Reactions

Harnessing the cation-π interactions of metalated gold monolayer-protected clusters to detect aromatic volatile organic compounds

The strong, non-covalent interactions between π-systems and cations have been the focus of numerous studies on biomolecule structure and catalysis. These interactions, however, have yet to be explored as a sensing mechanism for detecting trace levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this article, we provide evidence that cation-π interactions can be used to elicit sensitive and selective chemiresistor responses to aromatic VOCs. The chemiresistors are fitted with carboxylate-linked alkali metals bound to the surface of gold monolayer-protected clusters formulated on microfabricated interdigitated electrodes. Sensor responses to aromatic and non-aromatic VOCs are consistent with a model for cation-π interactions arising from association of electron-rich aromatic π-systems to metal ions with the relative strength of attraction following the order K⁺ > Na⁺ > Li⁺. The results point toward cation-π interactions as a promising research avenue to explore for developing aromatic VOC-selective sensors.

Iodine activation: a general method for catalytic enhancement of thiolate monolayer-protected metal clusters

To enhance catalytic activity, the present study details a general approach for partial thiolate ligand removal from monolayer-protected clusters (MPCs) by straightforward in situ addition of iodine. Two model reactions are examined to illustrate the effects on the catalytic activity of glutathione (SG)-capped Au MPCs serving as a catalyst for the NaBH4 reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol and SG-capped Pd MPCs serving as a catalyst for the hydrogenation/isomerization of allyl alcohol. Iodine addition promoted partial thiolate ligand removal from both MPCs and improved the catalytic properties, presumably due to greater surface exposure of the metal cores as a result of ligand dissociation. The rate of 4-nitrophenol reduction increased from 0.066 min-1 in the absence of I2 to 0.505 min-1 in the presence of 2.0 equivalents I2 (equivalents based on total ligated glutathione). The reaction of allyl alcohol to produce 1-propanol and propanal was similarly accelerated as indicated by the increase in turnover frequency from 131 to 230 moles products per moles catalyst per h by addition of 0.2 equivalents I2. In both reactions, as the amount of I2 added increases the catalyst recyclability decreases due to catalyst instability. Low equivalents of I2 are optimal when considering both reaction rate and catalyst recyclability.

Effect of Size, Coverage, and Dispersity on the Potential-Controlled Ostwald Ripening of Metal Nanoparticles

Here, we describe the size-dependent, electrochemically controlled Ostwald ripening of 1.6, 4, and 15 nm-diameter Au nanoparticles (NPs) attached to (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES)-modified glass/indium-tin-oxide electrodes. Holding the Au NP-coated electrodes at a constant negative potential of the dissolution potential in a bromide-containing electrolyte led to electrochemical Ostwald ripening of the different-sized Au NPs. The relative increase in the diameter of the NPs (D_final/D_initial) during electrochemical Ostwald ripening increases with decreasing NP size, increasing applied potential, increasing NP population size dispersity, and increasing NP coverage on the electrodes. Monitoring the average size of the Au NPs as a function of time at a controlled potential allows the measurement of the Ostwald ripening rate. Anodic stripping voltammetry and electrochemical determination of the surface area-to-volume ratio provide fast and convenient size analysis for many different samples and conditions, with consistent sizes from scanning electron microscopy images for some samples. It is important to better understand electrochemical Ostwald ripening, especially under potential control, since it is a major process that occurs during the synthesis of metal NPs and leads to detrimental size instability during electrochemical applications.