1
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Balan JL, Morato-Márquez JA, Torres-Torres JG, Cabellos JL, Ortiz-Chi F. Structural and optical properties of the Ag n-tyrosine complexes ( n = 3-12): a density functional theory study. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230908. [PMID: 38094276 PMCID: PMC10716649 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
We study the optical properties of Agn (n = 3-12) neutral clusters and their coordination with a tyrosine (Tyr) molecule. A global search strategy coupled with density functional theory (DFT) computations explored the potential energy surface. Adsorption energy calculations predicted that Tyr coordination stabilizes the metal clusters, favouring the Agn-Tyr complexes with an even number of silver atoms. For the Agn low-lying isomers, the general shape and the major transitions of the calculated time dependent-DFT (TD-DFT) absorption spectra align with those of previous reports measured in an argon environment. We use the analysis of non-covalent interactions to identify the specific interactions between each silver cluster and functional groups of Tyr. The TD-DFT absorption spectra for the Agn-Tyr complexes showed that Tyr significantly modifies the optical properties of the coordinated silver clusters and affects the smaller systems to a greater extent. The optical absorption results of the bare Agn clusters and the Agn-Tyr complexes are compared and discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Luis Balan
- División Académica de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Cunduacán 86690, Tabasco, México
| | - José Aminadat Morato-Márquez
- División Académica de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Cunduacán 86690, Tabasco, México
- Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Villahermosa, Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Villahermosa, 86010, Tabasco, México
| | - José Gilberto Torres-Torres
- División Académica de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Cunduacán 86690, Tabasco, México
| | - José Luis Cabellos
- Universidad Politécnica de Tapachula, Coordinación de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico, Tapachula 30830, Chiapas, México
| | - Filiberto Ortiz-Chi
- CONAHCYT-División Académica de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Cunduacán 86690, Tabasco, México
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2
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Guha R, Gonzàlez-Rosell A, Rafik M, Arevalos N, Katz BB, Copp SM. Electron count and ligand composition influence the optical and chiroptical signatures of far-red and NIR-emissive DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters. Chem Sci 2023; 14:11340-11350. [PMID: 37886084 PMCID: PMC10599602 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc02931j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Near-infrared (NIR) emissive DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters (AgN-DNAs) are promising fluorophores in the biological tissue transparency windows. Hundreds of NIR-emissive AgN-DNAs have recently been discovered, but their structure-property relationships remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate 19 different far-red and NIR emissive AgN-DNA species stabilized by 10-base DNA templates, including well-studied emitters whose compositions and chiroptical properties have never been reported before. The molecular formula of each purified species is determined by high-resolution mass spectrometry and correlated to its optical absorbance, emission, and circular dichroism (CD) spectra. We find that there are four distinct compositions for AgN-DNAs emissive at the far red/NIR spectral border. These emitters are either 8-electron clusters stabilized by two DNA oligomer copies or 6-electron clusters with one of three different ligand compositions: two oligomer copies, three oligomer copies, or two oligomer copies with additional chlorido ligands. Distinct optical and chiroptical signatures of 6-electron AgN-DNAs correlate with each ligand composition. AgN-DNAs with three oligomer ligands exhibit shorter Stokes shifts than AgN-DNAs with two oligomers, and AgN-DNAs with chlorido ligands have increased Stokes shifts and significantly suppressed visible CD transitions. Nanocluster electron count also significantly influences electronic structure and optical properties, with 6-electron and 8-electron AgN-DNAs exhibiting distinct absorbance and CD spectral features. This study shows that the optical and chiroptical properties of NIR-emissive AgN-DNAs are highly sensitive to nanocluster composition and illustrates the diversity of structure-property relationships for NIR-emissive AgN-DNAs, which could be harnessed to precisely tune these emitters for bioimaging applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rweetuparna Guha
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Irvine CA 92697 USA
| | - Anna Gonzàlez-Rosell
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Irvine CA 92697 USA
| | - Malak Rafik
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Irvine CA 92697 USA
| | - Nery Arevalos
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Irvine CA 92697 USA
| | - Benjamin B Katz
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine CA 92697 USA
| | - Stacy M Copp
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Irvine CA 92697 USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine CA 92697 USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Irvine CA 92697 USA
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3
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Vuong VQ, Lee KH, Savara AA, Fung V, Irle S. Toward Quantum Chemical Free Energy Simulations of Platinum Nanoparticles on Titania Support. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:6471-6483. [PMID: 37647252 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) supported on titania surfaces are costly but indispensable heterogeneous catalysts because of their highly effective and selective catalytic properties. Therefore, it is vital to understand their physicochemical processes during catalysis to optimize their use and to further develop better catalysts. However, simulating these dynamic processes is challenging due to the need for a reliable quantum chemical method to describe chemical bond breaking and bond formation during the processes but, at the same time, fast enough to sample a large number of configurations required to compute the corresponding free energy surfaces. Density functional theory (DFT) is often used to explore Pt-NPs; nonetheless, it is usually limited to some minimum-energy reaction pathways on static potential energy surfaces because of its high computational cost. We report here a combination of the density functional tight binding (DFTB) method as a fast but reliable approximation to DFT, the steered molecular dynamics (SMD) technique, and the Jarzynski equality to construct free energy surfaces of the temperature-dependent diffusion and growth of platinum particles on a titania surface. In particular, we present the parametrization for Pt-X (X = Pt, Ti, or O) interactions in the framework of the second-order DFTB method, using a previous parametrization for titania as a basis. The optimized parameter set was used to simulate the surface diffusion of a single platinum atom (Pt1) and the growth of Pt6 from Pt5 and Pt1 on the rutile (110) surface at three different temperatures (T = 400, 600, 800 K). The free energy profile was constructed by using over a hundred SMD trajectories for each process. We found that increasing the temperature has a minimal effect on the formation free energy; nevertheless, it significantly reduces the free energy barrier of Pt atom migration on the TiO2 surface and the transition state (TS) of its deposition. In a concluding remark, the methodology opens the pathway to quantum chemical free energy simulations of Pt-NPs' temperature-dependent growth and other transformation processes on the titania support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van-Quan Vuong
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Ka Hung Lee
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Aditya A Savara
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Victor Fung
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Stephan Irle
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Computational Sciences & Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
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4
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Gupta AK, Marshall N, Yourston L, Rolband L, Beasock D, Danai L, Skelly E, Afonin KA, Krasnoslobodtsev AV. Optical, structural, and biological properties of silver nanoclusters formed within the loop of a C-12 hairpin sequence. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2023; 5:3500-3511. [PMID: 37383066 PMCID: PMC10295035 DOI: 10.1039/d3na00092c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) are the next-generation nanomaterials representing supra-atomic structures where silver atoms are organized in a particular geometry. DNA can effectively template and stabilize these novel fluorescent AgNCs. Only a few atoms in size - the properties of nanoclusters can be tuned using only single nucleobase replacement of C-rich templating DNA sequences. A high degree of control over the structure of AgNC could greatly contribute to the ability to fine-tune the properties of silver nanoclusters. In this study, we explore the properties of AgNCs formed on a short DNA sequence with a C12 hairpin loop structure (AgNC@hpC12). We identify three types of cytosines based on their involvement in the stabilization of AgNCs. Computational and experimental results suggest an elongated cluster shape with 10 silver atoms. We found that the properties of the AgNCs depend on the overall structure and relative position of the silver atoms. The emission pattern of the AgNCs depends strongly on the charge distribution, while all silver atoms and some DNA bases are involved in optical transitions based on molecular orbital (MO) visualization. We also characterize the antibacterial properties of silver nanoclusters and propose a possible mechanism of action based on the interactions of AgNCs with molecular oxygen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhilesh Kumar Gupta
- Department of Physics, University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha NE 68182 USA +1402-554-3723
| | - Nolan Marshall
- Department of Physics, University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha NE 68182 USA +1402-554-3723
| | - Liam Yourston
- Department of Physics, University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha NE 68182 USA +1402-554-3723
| | - Lewis Rolband
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte NC 28223 USA
| | - Damian Beasock
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte NC 28223 USA
| | - Leyla Danai
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte NC 28223 USA
| | - Elizabeth Skelly
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte NC 28223 USA
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte NC 28223 USA
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5
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Felix JPCS, Batista KEA, Morais WO, Nagurniak GR, Orenha RP, Rêgo CRC, Guedes-Sobrinho D, Parreira RLT, Ferrer MM, Piotrowski MJ. Molecular adsorption on coinage metal subnanoclusters: A DFT+D3 investigation. J Comput Chem 2023; 44:1040-1051. [PMID: 36576316 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.27063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Gold and silver subnanoclusters with few atoms are prominent candidates for catalysis-related applications, primarily because of the large fraction of lower-coordinated atoms exposed and ready to interact with external chemical species. However, an in-depth energetic analysis is necessary to characterize the relevant terms within the molecular adsorption process that can frame the interactions within the Sabatier principle. Herein, we investigate the interaction between Agn and Aun subnanoclusters (clu, n = 2-7) and N2 , NO, CO, and O2 molecules, using scalar-relativistic density functional theory calculations within van der Waals D3 corrections. The onefold top site is preferred for all chemisorption cases, with a predominance of linear (≈180°) and bent (≈120°) molecular geometries. A larger magnitude of adsorption energy is correlated with smaller distances between molecules and clusters and with the weakening of the adsorbates bond strength represented by the increase of the equilibrium distances and decrease of molecular stretching frequencies. From the energetic decomposition, the interaction energy term was established as an excellent descriptor to classify subnanoclusters in the adsorption/desorption process concomitant with the Sabatier principle. The limiting cases: (i) weak molecular adsorption on the subnanoclusters, which may compromise the reaction activation, where an interaction energy magnitude close to 0 eV is observed (e.g., physisorption in N2 /Ag6 ); and (ii) strong molecular interactions with the subnanoclusters, given the interaction energy magnitude is larger than at least one of the individual fragment binding energies (e.g., strong chemisorption in CO/Au4 and NO/Au4 ), conferring a decrease in the desorption rate and an increase in the possible poisoning rate. However, the intermediate cases are promising by involving interaction energy magnitudes between zero and fragment binding energies. Following the molecular closed-shell (open-shell) electronic configuration, we find a predominant electrostatic (covalent) nature of the physical interactions for N2 ⋯clu and CO ⋯clu (O2 ⋯clu and NO⋯clu), except in the physisorption case (N2 /Ag6 ) where dispersive interaction is dominant. Our results clarify questions about the molecular adsorption on subnanoclusters as a relevant mechanistic step present in nanocatalytic reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- João P C S Felix
- Department of Physics, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Krys E A Batista
- Coordenadoria Regional de Ensino, Secretaria de Estado de Educação e Desporto, Tefé, Brazil
| | - Wesley O Morais
- Department of Physics, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Glaucio R Nagurniak
- Department of Chemistry, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, Brazil
| | - Renato P Orenha
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitário Trindade, Florianópolis, Brazil.,Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade de Franca, Franca, Brazil
| | - Celso R C Rêgo
- Institute of Nanotechnology Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | | | - Renato L T Parreira
- Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade de Franca, Franca, Brazil
| | - Mateus M Ferrer
- Center of Technological Development, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
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6
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Zanetti-Polzi L, Charchar P, Yarovsky I, Corni S. Origins of the pH-Responsive Photoluminescence of Peptide-Functionalized Au Nanoclusters. ACS NANO 2022; 16:20129-20140. [PMID: 36300936 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c04335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasmall peptide-protected gold nanoclusters are a promising class of bioresponsive material exhibiting pH-sensitive photoluminescence. We present a theoretical insight into the effect peptide-ligand environment has on pH-responsive fluorescence, with the aim of enhancing the rational design of gold nanoclusters for bioapplications. Employing a hybrid quantum/classical computational methodology, we systematically calculate deprotonation free energies of N-terminal cysteine amine groups in proximity to the inherently fluorescent core of Au25(Peptide)18 nanoclusters. We find that subtle changes in hexapeptide sequence alter the electrostatic environment and significantly shift the conventional N-terminal amine pKa expected for amino acids free-in-solution. Our findings provide an insight into how the deprotonation equilibrium of N-terminal amine and side chain carboxyl groups cooperatively respond to solution pH changes, explaining the experimentally observed, yet elusive, pH-responsive fluorescence of peptide-functionalized Au25 clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Zanetti-Polzi
- Istituto di Nanoscienze, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche CNR-NANO, 41125Modena, Italy
| | | | - Irene Yarovsky
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Victoria3001, Australia
| | - Stefano Corni
- Istituto di Nanoscienze, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche CNR-NANO, 41125Modena, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Padova, 35131Padova, Italy
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7
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Pniakowska A, Kumaranchira Ramankutty K, Obstarczyk P, Perić Bakulić M, Sanader Maršić Ž, Bonačić‐Koutecký V, Bürgi T, Olesiak‐Bańska J. Gold‐Doping Effect on Two‐Photon Absorption and Luminescence of Atomically Precise Silver Ligated Nanoclusters. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202209645. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202209645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pniakowska
- Institute of Advanced Materials Wroclaw University of Science and Technology Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27 50-370 Wroclaw Poland
| | | | - Patryk Obstarczyk
- Institute of Advanced Materials Wroclaw University of Science and Technology Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27 50-370 Wroclaw Poland
| | - Martina Perić Bakulić
- Center of Excellence for Science and Technology-Integration of Mediterranean Region (STIM) at Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Sciences and Technology (ICAST) University of Split Poljička cesta 35 21000 Split Croatia
| | - Željka Sanader Maršić
- Center of Excellence for Science and Technology-Integration of Mediterranean Region (STIM) at Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Sciences and Technology (ICAST) University of Split Poljička cesta 35 21000 Split Croatia
- Faculty of Science University of Split Ruđera Boškovića 33 21000 Split Croatia
| | - Vlasta Bonačić‐Koutecký
- Center of Excellence for Science and Technology-Integration of Mediterranean Region (STIM) at Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Sciences and Technology (ICAST) University of Split Poljička cesta 35 21000 Split Croatia
| | - Thomas Bürgi
- Département de Chimie Physique Université de Genève 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet 1211 Geneva 4 Switzerland
| | - Joanna Olesiak‐Bańska
- Institute of Advanced Materials Wroclaw University of Science and Technology Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27 50-370 Wroclaw Poland
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8
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Pniakowska A, Ramankutty KK, Obstarczyk P, Bakulić MP, Maršić ŽS, Bonačić-Koutecký V, Bürgi T, Olesiak-Banska J. Gold‐doping effect on two‐photon absorption and luminescence of atomically precise silver ligated nanoclusters. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202209645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pniakowska
- Wroclaw University of Science and Technology: Politechnika Wroclawska Institute of Advanced Materials POLAND
| | | | - Patryk Obstarczyk
- Wroclaw University of Science and Technology: Politechnika Wroclawska Institute of Advanced Materials POLAND
| | - Martina Perić Bakulić
- University of Split: Sveuciliste u Splitu Center of Excellence for Science and Technology-Integration of Mediterranean Region (STIM) at Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Sciences and Technology (ICAST) CROATIA
| | - Željka Sanader Maršić
- University of Split: Sveuciliste u Splitu Center of Excellence for Science and Technology-Integration of Mediterranean Region (STIM) at Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Sciences and Technology (ICAST) CROATIA
| | - Vlasta Bonačić-Koutecký
- University of Split: Sveuciliste u Splitu Center of Excellence for Science and Technology-Integration of Mediterranean Region (STIM) at Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Sciences and Technology (ICAST) CROATIA
| | - Thomas Bürgi
- Universite de Geneve Département de Chimie Physique SWITZERLAND
| | - Joanna Olesiak-Banska
- Wroclaw University of Science and Technology: Politechnika Wroclawska Faculty of Chemistry Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27 50-370 Wroclaw POLAND
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9
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Han W, Wang E, Xu WW. New structural insights into the stability of Au 22(SR) 16 nanocluster under ring model guidance. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:15920-15924. [PMID: 35758327 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp00421f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This study presents thorough structural insights into the stability of crystallized Au22(SAdm)16 (HSAdm = 1-adamantanethiol) nanocluster. With the recently developed Ring Model for describing the interaction between inner gold cores and outer protecting ligands in thiolate-protected gold nanoclusters, the experimental spontaneous transformation from the crystallized Au22(SAdm)16 to Au21(SAdm)15 could be well understood as structurally unfavorable for the current Au22(SAdm)16 and could also be attributed to the weaker aurophilic interaction between the inner Au4 core and the surrounding rings in Au22(SAdm)16 over that in Au21(SAdm)15. Furthermore, with the Ring Model and the grand unified model, two new Au22(SCH3)16 isomers with evident lower energies, higher HOMO-LUMO gaps as well as distinct optical properties over the available crystallized isomer were obtained. This study deepens the current knowledge on the structure of the Au22(SR)16 cluster from a new structural point of view and also confirms the validity as well as practicability of the Ring Model in understanding and predicting the stable structures of thiolate-protected gold nanoclusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhua Han
- Department of Physics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.
| | - Endong Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, 116029, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Wen Wu Xu
- Department of Physics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.
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10
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Jana A, Unnikrishnan PM, Poonia AK, Roy J, Jash M, Paramasivam G, Machacek J, Adarsh KNVD, Base T, Pradeep T. Carboranethiol-Protected Propeller-Shaped Photoresponsive Silver Nanomolecule. Inorg Chem 2022; 61:8593-8603. [PMID: 35621298 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We report the synthesis, structural characterization, and photophysical properties of a propeller-shaped Ag21 nanomolecule with six rotary arms, protected with m-carborane-9-thiol (MCT) and triphenylphosphine (TPP) ligands. Structural analysis reveals that the nanomolecule has an Ag13 central icosahedral core with six directly connected silver atoms and two more silver atoms connected through three Ag-S-Ag bridging motifs. While 12 MCT ligands protect the core through metal-thiolate bonds in a 3-6-3-layered fashion, two TPP ligands solely protect the two bridging silver atoms. Interestingly, the rotational orientation of a silver sulfide staple motif is opposite to the orientation of carborane ligands, resembling the existence of a bidirectional rotational orientation in the nanomolecule. Careful analysis reveals that the orientation of carborane ligands on the cluster's surface resembles an assembly of double rotors. The zero circular dichroism signal indicates its achiral nature in solution. There are multiple absorption peaks in its UV-vis absorption spectrum, characteristic of a quantized electronic structure. The spectrum appears as a fingerprint for the cluster. High-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry proves the structure and composition of the nanocluster in solution, and systematic fragmentation of the molecular ion starts with the loss of surface-bound ligands with increasing collision energy. Its multiple optical absorption features are in good agreement with the theoretically calculated spectrum. The cluster shows a narrow near-IR emission at 814 nm. The Ag21 nanomolecule is thermally stable at ambient conditions up to 100 °C. However, white-light illumination (lamp power = 120-160 W) shows photosensitivity, and this induces structural distortion, as confirmed by changes in the Raman and electronic absorption spectra. Femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption studies reveal an exceptionally stable excited state having a lifetime of 3.26 ± 0.02 μs for the carriers, spread over a broad wavelength region of 520-650 nm. The formation of core-centered long-lived carriers in the excited state is responsible for the observed light-activated structural distortion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arijit Jana
- Department of Science and Technology (DST) Unit of Nanoscience and Thematic Unit of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Parvathy M Unnikrishnan
- Department of Science and Technology (DST) Unit of Nanoscience and Thematic Unit of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Ajay K Poonia
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal 462066, India
| | - Jayoti Roy
- Department of Science and Technology (DST) Unit of Nanoscience and Thematic Unit of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Madhuri Jash
- Department of Science and Technology (DST) Unit of Nanoscience and Thematic Unit of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Ganesan Paramasivam
- Department of Science and Technology (DST) Unit of Nanoscience and Thematic Unit of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Jan Machacek
- Department of Synthesis, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, The Czech Academy of Science 1001 Husinec, Rez 25068, Czech Republic
| | | | - Tomas Base
- Department of Synthesis, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, The Czech Academy of Science 1001 Husinec, Rez 25068, Czech Republic
| | - Thalappil Pradeep
- Department of Science and Technology (DST) Unit of Nanoscience and Thematic Unit of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai 600036, India
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11
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Das AK, Biswas S, Manna SS, Pathak B, Mandal S. Atomically Precise Silver Nanocluster for Artificial Light-Harvesting System Through Supramolecular Functionalization. Chem Sci 2022; 13:8355-8364. [PMID: 35919723 PMCID: PMC9297522 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc02786k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Designing an artificial light-harvesting system (LHS) with high energy transfer efficiency has been a challenging task. Herein, we report an atom-precise silver nanocluster (Ag NC) as a unique platform to fabricate the artificial LHS. A facile one-pot synthesis of [Cl@Ag16S(S-Adm)8(CF3COO)5(DMF)3(H2O)2]·DMF (Ag16) NC by using a bulky adamantanethiolate ligand is portrayed here which, in turn, alleviates the issues related to the smaller NC core designed from a highly steric environment. The surface molecular motion of this NC extends the non-radiative relaxation rate which is strategically restricted by a recognition site-specific supramolecular adduct with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) that results in the generation of a blue emission. This emission property is further controlled by the number of attached β-CD which eventually imposes more rigidity. The higher emission quantum yield and the larger emission lifetime relative to the lesser numbered β-CD conjugation signify Ag16 ∩ β-CD2 as a good LHS donor component. In the presence of an organic dye (β-carotene) as an energy acceptor, an LHS is fabricated here via the Förster resonance energy transfer pathway. The opposite charges on the surfaces and the matched electronic energy distribution result in a 93% energy transfer efficiency with a great antenna effect from the UV-to-visible region. Finally, the harvested energy is utilized successfully for efficient photocurrent generation with much-enhanced yields compared to the individual components. This fundamental investigation into highly-efficient energy transfer through atom-precise NC-based systems will inspire additional opportunities for designing new LHSs in the near future. A β-cyclodextrin functionalized atomically precise Ag16 based artificial light-harvesting system is fabricated with 93% energy transfer efficiency from the blue to the green emission region of the acceptor β-carotene molecule.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Anish Kumar Das
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram Kerala 69551 India
| | - Sourav Biswas
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram Kerala 69551 India
| | - Surya Sekhar Manna
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Indore Madhya Pradesh 453552 India
| | - Biswarup Pathak
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Indore Madhya Pradesh 453552 India
| | - Sukhendu Mandal
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram Kerala 69551 India
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12
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Gam F, Chantrenne I, Kahlal S, Chiu TH, Liao JH, Liu CW, Saillard JY. Alloying dichalcogenolate-protected Ag 21 eight-electron nanoclusters: a DFT investigation. NANOSCALE 2021; 14:196-203. [PMID: 34908067 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr06019h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The isoelectronic doping of dichalcogenolato nanoclusters of the type [Ag21{E2P(OR)2}12]+ (E = S, Se) by any heteroatom belonging to groups 9-12 was systematically investigated using DFT calculations. Although they can differ in their global structure, all of these species have the same M@M12-centered icosahedral core. In any case, the different structure types are all very close in energy. In all of them, three different alloying sites can be identified (central, icosahedral, peripheral) and calculations allowed the trends in heteroatom site occupation preference across the group 9-12 family to be revealed. These trends are supported by complementary experimental results. They were rationalized on the basis of electronegativity, potential involvement in the bonding of valence d-orbitals and atom size. TD-DFT calculations showed that the effect of doping on optical properties is sizable and this should stimulate research on the modulation of luminescence properties in the dithiolato and diseleno families of complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franck Gam
- Université de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR-UMR 6226, F-35000 Rennes, France.
| | - Isaac Chantrenne
- Université de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR-UMR 6226, F-35000 Rennes, France.
| | - Samia Kahlal
- Université de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR-UMR 6226, F-35000 Rennes, France.
| | - Tzu-Hao Chiu
- Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 974301, Taiwan, Republic of China.
| | - Jian-Hong Liao
- Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 974301, Taiwan, Republic of China.
| | - C W Liu
- Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 974301, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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13
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Matus MF, Malola S, Häkkinen H. Ligand Ratio Plays a Critical Role in the Design of Optimal Multifunctional Gold Nanoclusters for Targeted Gastric Cancer Therapy. ACS NANOSCIENCE AU 2021; 1:47-60. [PMID: 37102116 PMCID: PMC10125177 DOI: 10.1021/acsnanoscienceau.1c00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nanodrug delivery systems (NDDSs) based on water-soluble and atomically precise gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) are under the spotlight due to their great potential in cancer theranostics. Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most aggressive cancers with a low early diagnosis rate, with drug therapy being the primary means to overcome its increasing incidence. In this work, we designed and characterized a set of 28 targeted nanosystems based on Au144(p-MBA)60 (p-MBA = para-mercaptobenzoic acid) nanocluster to be potentially employed as combination therapy in GC treatment. The proposed multifunctional AuNCs are functionalized with cytotoxic drugs (5-fluorouracil and epirubicin) or inhibitors of different signaling pathways (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)) and RGD peptides as targeting ligands, and we studied the role of ligand ratio in their optimal structural conformation using peptide-protein docking and all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The results reveal that the peptide/drug ratio is a crucial factor influencing the potential targeting ability of the nanosystem. The most convenient features were observed when the peptide amount was favored over the drug in most cases; however, we demonstrated that the system composition and the intermolecular interactions on the ligand shell are crucial for achieving the desired effect. This approach helps guide the experimental stage, providing essential information on the size and composition of the nanosystem at the atomic level for ligand tuning in order to increase the desired properties.
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14
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Li Q, Zeman CJ, Schatz GC, Gu XW. Source of Bright Near-Infrared Luminescence in Gold Nanoclusters. ACS NANO 2021; 15:16095-16105. [PMID: 34613697 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c04759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Gold nanoclusters with near-infrared (NIR) photoluminescence (PL) have great potential as sensing and imaging materials in biomedical and bioimaging applications. In this work, Au21(S-Adm)15 and Au38S2(S-Adm)20 are used to unravel the underlying mechanisms for the improved quantum yields (QY), large Stokes shifts, and long PL lifetimes in gold nanoclusters. Both nanoclusters show decent PL QY. In particular, the Au38S2(S-Adm)20 nanocluster shows a bright NIR PL at 900 nm with QY up to 15% in normal solvents (such as toluene) at ambient conditions. The relatively lower QY for Au21(S-Adm)15 (4%) compared to that of Au38S2(S-Adm)20 is attributed to the lowest-lying excited state being symmetry-disallowed, as evidenced by the pressure-dependent antispectral shift of the absorption spectra compared to PL, yet Au21(S-Adm)15 maintains some emissive properties due to a nearby symmetry-allowed excited state. Furthermore, our results show that suppression of nonradiative decay due to the surface "lock rings", which encircle the Au kernel and the surface "lock atoms" which bridge the fundamental Au kernel units (e.g., tetrahedra, icosahedra, etc.), is the key to obtaining high QYs in gold nanoclusters. The complicated excited-state processes and the small absorption coefficient of the band-edge transition lead to the large Stokes shifts and the long PL lifetimes that are widely observed in gold nanoclusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Charles J Zeman
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - George C Schatz
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - X Wendy Gu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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15
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A reasonable approach for the generation of hollow icosahedral kernels in metal nanoclusters. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6186. [PMID: 34702816 PMCID: PMC8548331 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26528-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the hollow icosahedral M12 kernel has been extensively observed in metal nanoclusters, its origin remains a mystery. Here we report a reasonable avenue for the generation of the hollow icosahedron: the kernel collapse from several small nano-building blocks to an integrated hollow icosahedron. On the basis of the Au alloying processes from Ag28Cu12(SR)24 to the template-maintained AuxAg28-xCu12(SR)24 and then to the template-transformed Au12CuyAg32-y(SR)30, the kernel evolution/collapse from “tetrahedral Ag4 + 4∗Ag3” to “tetrahedral Au4 + 4∗M3 (M = Au/Ag)” and then to “hollow icosahedral Au12” is mapped out. Significantly, the “kernel collapse” from small-sized nano-building blocks to large-sized nanostructures not only unveils the formation of hollow icosahedral M12 in this work, but also might be a very common approach in constructing metallic kernels of nanoclusters and nanoparticles (not limited to the M12 structure). The origin of the hollow icosahedral M12 kernel in metal nanoclusters is under debate. Here the authors demonstrate the Au alloying-induced kernel collapse from small-sized nano-building blocks as a viable approach for the generation of hollow icosahedral M12 kernel in metal nanoclusters.
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16
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Jana A, Jash M, Poonia AK, Paramasivam G, Islam MR, Chakraborty P, Antharjanam S, Machacek J, Ghosh S, Adarsh KNVD, Base T, Pradeep T. Light-Activated Intercluster Conversion of an Atomically Precise Silver Nanocluster. ACS NANO 2021; 15:15781-15793. [PMID: 34605625 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c02602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Noble metal nanoclusters protected with carboranes, a 12-vertex, nearly icosahedral boron-carbon framework system, have received immense attention due to their different physicochemical properties. We have synthesized ortho-carborane-1,2-dithiol (CBDT) and triphenylphosphine (TPP) coprotected [Ag42(CBDT)15(TPP)4]2- (shortly Ag42) using a ligand-exchange induced structural transformation reaction starting from [Ag18H16(TPP)10]2+ (shortly Ag18). The formation of Ag42 was confirmed using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Multiple UV-vis optical absorption features, which exhibit characteristic patterns, confirmed its molecular nature. Ag42 is the highest nuclearity silver nanocluster protected with carboranes reported so far. Although these clusters are thermally stable up to 200 °C in their solid state, light-irradiation of its solutions in dichloromethane results in its structural conversion to [Ag14(CBDT)6(TPP)6] (shortly Ag14). Single crystal X-ray diffraction of Ag14 exhibits Ag8-Ag6 core-shell structure of this nanocluster. Other spectroscopic and microscopic studies also confirm the formation of Ag14. Time-dependent mass spectrometry revealed that this light-activated intercluster conversion went through two sets of intermediate clusters. The first set of intermediates, [Ag37(CBDT)12(TPP)4]3- and [Ag35(CBDT)8(TPP)4]2- were formed after 8 h of light irradiation, and the second set comprised of [Ag30(CBDT)8(TPP)4]2-, [Ag26(CBDT)11(TPP)4]2-, and [Ag26(CBDT)7(TPP)7]2- were formed after 16 h of irradiation. After 24 h, the conversion to Ag14 was complete. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the kernel-centered excited state molecular orbitals of Ag42 are responsible for light-activated transformation. Interestingly, Ag42 showed near-infrared emission at 980 nm (1.26 eV) with a lifetime of >1.5 μs, indicating phosphorescence, while Ag14 shows red luminescence at 626 nm (1.98 eV) with a lifetime of 550 ps, indicating fluorescence. Femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption showed the transitions between their electronic energy levels and associated carrier dynamics. Formation of the stable excited states of Ag42 is shown to be responsible for the core transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arijit Jana
- DST Unit of Nanoscience (DST UNS), and Thematic Unit of Excellence (TUE), Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai-600036, India
| | - Madhuri Jash
- DST Unit of Nanoscience (DST UNS), and Thematic Unit of Excellence (TUE), Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai-600036, India
| | - Ajay Kumar Poonia
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science Education, and Research Bhopal, Bhopal-462066, India
| | - Ganesan Paramasivam
- DST Unit of Nanoscience (DST UNS), and Thematic Unit of Excellence (TUE), Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai-600036, India
| | - Md Rabiul Islam
- DST Unit of Nanoscience (DST UNS), and Thematic Unit of Excellence (TUE), Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai-600036, India
| | - Papri Chakraborty
- DST Unit of Nanoscience (DST UNS), and Thematic Unit of Excellence (TUE), Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai-600036, India
| | - Sudhadevi Antharjanam
- Sophisticated Analytical Instruments Facility (SAIF), Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai-600036, India
| | - Jan Machacek
- Department of Synthesis, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, The Czech Academy of Science, 1001 Husinec-Rez, 25068 Rez, Czech Republic
| | - Sundargopal Ghosh
- DST Unit of Nanoscience (DST UNS), and Thematic Unit of Excellence (TUE), Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai-600036, India
| | | | - Tomas Base
- Department of Synthesis, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, The Czech Academy of Science, 1001 Husinec-Rez, 25068 Rez, Czech Republic
| | - Thalappil Pradeep
- DST Unit of Nanoscience (DST UNS), and Thematic Unit of Excellence (TUE), Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai-600036, India
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17
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Kang X, Wei X, Wang S, Zhu M. An insight, at the atomic level, into the polarization effect in controlling the morphology of metal nanoclusters. Chem Sci 2021; 12:11080-11088. [PMID: 34522305 PMCID: PMC8386652 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc00632k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The polarization effect has been a powerful tool in controlling the morphology of metal nanoparticles. However, a precise investigation of the polarization effect has been a challenging pursuit for a long time, and little has been achieved for analysis at the atomic level. Here the atomic-level analysis of the polarization effect in controlling the morphologies of metal nanoclusters is reported. By simply regulating the counterions, the controllable transformation from Pt1Ag28(S-PhMe2)x(S-Adm)18−x(PPh3)4 (x = 0–6, Pt1Ag28-2) to Pt1Ag24(S-PhMe2)18 (Pt1Ag24) with a spherical configuration or to Pt1Ag28(S-Adm)18(PPh3)4 (Pt1Ag28-1) with a tetrahedral configuration has been accomplished. In addition, the spherical or tetrahedral configuration of the clusters could be reversibly transformed by re-regulating the proportion of counterions with opposite charges. More significantly, the configuration transformation rate has been meticulously manipulated by regulating the polarization effect of the ions on the parent nanoclusters. The observations in this paper provide an intriguing nanomodel that enables the polarization effect to be understood at the atomic level. Based on the inter-conversion between Pt1Ag24(SR)18 and Pt1Ag28(SR)18(PPh3)4, an insight into the polarization effect in controlling the morphology of metal nanoparticles is presented.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Kang
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Anhui University Hefei 230601 P. R. China .,Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials, Anhui University, Ministry of Education Hefei 230601 P. R. China
| | - Xiao Wei
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Anhui University Hefei 230601 P. R. China .,Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials, Anhui University, Ministry of Education Hefei 230601 P. R. China
| | - Shuxin Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Anhui University Hefei 230601 P. R. China .,Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials, Anhui University, Ministry of Education Hefei 230601 P. R. China
| | - Manzhou Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Anhui University Hefei 230601 P. R. China .,Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials, Anhui University, Ministry of Education Hefei 230601 P. R. China
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18
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Petty JT, Carnahan S, Kim D, Lewis D. Long-lived Ag 10 6+ luminescence and a split DNA scaffold. J Chem Phys 2021; 154:244302. [PMID: 34241360 DOI: 10.1063/5.0056214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular silver clusters emit across the visible to near-infrared, and specific chromophores can be formed using DNA strands. We study C4AC4TC3G that selectively coordinates and encapsulates Ag10 6+, and this chromophore has two distinct electronic transitions. The green emission is strong and prompt with ϕ = 18% and τ = 1.25 ns, and the near-infrared luminescence is weaker, slower with τ = 50 µs, and is partly quenched by oxygen, suggesting phosphorescence. This lifetime can be modulated by the DNA host, and we consider two derivatives of C4AC4TC3G with similar sequences but distinct structures. In one variant, thymine was excised to create an abasic gap in an otherwise intact strand. In the other, the covalent phosphate linkage was removed to split the DNA scaffold into two fragments. In relation to the contiguous strands, the broken template speeds the luminescence decay by twofold, and this difference may be due to greater DNA flexibility. These modifications suggest that a DNA can be structurally tuned to modulate metastable electronic states in its silver cluster adducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey T Petty
- Department of Chemistry, Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina 29613, USA
| | - Savannah Carnahan
- Department of Chemistry, Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina 29613, USA
| | - Dahye Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina 29613, USA
| | - David Lewis
- Department of Chemistry, Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina 29613, USA
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19
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Rolband L, Yourston L, Chandler M, Beasock D, Danai L, Kozlov S, Marshall N, Shevchenko O, Krasnoslobodtsev AV, Afonin KA. DNA-Templated Fluorescent Silver Nanoclusters Inhibit Bacterial Growth While Being Non-Toxic to Mammalian Cells. Molecules 2021; 26:4045. [PMID: 34279383 PMCID: PMC8271471 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26134045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Silver has a long history of antibacterial effectiveness. The combination of atomically precise metal nanoclusters with the field of nucleic acid nanotechnology has given rise to DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (DNA-AgNCs) which can be engineered with reproducible and unique fluorescent properties and antibacterial activity. Furthermore, cytosine-rich single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides designed to fold into hairpin structures improve the stability of AgNCs and additionally modulate their antibacterial properties and the quality of observed fluorescent signals. In this work, we characterize the sequence-specific fluorescence and composition of four representative DNA-AgNCs, compare their corresponding antibacterial effectiveness at different pH, and assess cytotoxicity to several mammalian cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis Rolband
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Liam Yourston
- Department of Physics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
| | - Morgan Chandler
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Damian Beasock
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Leyla Danai
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Seraphim Kozlov
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Nolan Marshall
- Department of Physics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
| | - Oleg Shevchenko
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | | | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
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20
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Matus MF, Häkkinen H. Atomically Precise Gold Nanoclusters: Towards an Optimal Biocompatible System from a Theoretical-Experimental Strategy. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2005499. [PMID: 33533179 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202005499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Potential biomedical applications of gold nanoparticles have increasingly been reported with great promise for diagnosis and therapy of several diseases. However, for such a versatile nanomaterial, the advantages and potential health risks need to be addressed carefully, as the available information about their toxicity is limited and inconsistent. Atomically precise gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) have emerged to overcome this challenge due to their unique features, such as superior stability, excellent biocompatibility, and efficient renal clearance. Remarkably, the elucidation of their structural and physicochemical properties provided by theory-experiment investigations offers exciting opportunities for site-specific biofunctionalization of the nanoparticle surface, which remains a significant concern for most of the materials in the biomedical field. This concept highlights the advantages conferred by atomically precise AuNCs for biomedical applications and the powerful strategy combining computational and experimental studies towards finding an optimal biocompatible AuNCs-based nanosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Francisca Matus
- Department of Physics, Nanoscience Center (NSC), University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, FI-40014, Finland
| | - Hannu Häkkinen
- Departments of Physics and Chemistry, Nanoscience Center (NSC), University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, FI-40014, Finland
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21
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Anderson ID, Riskowski RA, Ackerson CJ. Observable but Not Isolable: The RhAu 24 (PET) 181+ Nanocluster. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2004078. [PMID: 33174675 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202004078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The synthesis and characterization of RhAu24 (PET)18 (PET = 2-phenylethanethiol) is described. The cluster is cosynthesized with Au25 (PET)18 and rhodium thiolates in a coreduction of RhCl3 , HAuCl4 , and PET. Rapid decomposition of RhAu24 (PET)18 occurs when purified from the other reaction products, precluding the study of isolated cluster. Mixtures containing RhAu24 (PET)18 , Au25 (PET)18 , and rhodium thiolates are therefore characterized. Mass spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and chromatography methods suggest a combination of charge-charge and metallophilic interactions among Au25 (PET)181- , rhodium thiolates and RhAu24 (PET)18 resulting in stabilization of RhAu24 (PET)18 . The charge of RhAu24 (PET)18 is assigned as 1+ on the basis of its stoichiometric 1:1 presence with anionic Au25 (PET)18 , and its stability is contextualized within the superatom electron counting rules. This analysis concludes that the Rh atom absorbs one superatomic electron to close its d-shell, giving RhAu24 (PET)181+ a superatomic electron configuration of 1S2 1P4 . Overall, an updated framework for rationalizing open d-shell heterometal dopant electronics in thiolated gold nanoclusters emerges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian D Anderson
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Ryan A Riskowski
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
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22
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Yonezawa AF, Nagurniak GR, Orenha RP, Silva EHD, Parreira RLT, Piotrowski MJ. Stability Changes in Iridium Nanoclusters via Monoxide Adsorption: A DFT Study within the van der Waals Corrections. J Phys Chem A 2021; 125:4805-4818. [PMID: 34048257 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.1c02694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Small iridium nanoclusters are prominent subnanometric systems for catalysis-related applications, mainly because of a large surface-to-volume ratio, noncoalescence feature, and tunable properties, which are completely influenced by the number of atoms, geometry, and molecular interaction with the chemical environment. Herein, we investigate the interaction between Irn nanoclusters (n = 2-7) and polluting molecules, CO, NO, and SO, using van der Waals D3 corrected density functional theory calculations. Starting from a representative structural set, we determine the growth pattern of the lowest energy unprotected Irn nanoclusters, which is based on open structural motifs, and from the adsorption of a XO (X = C, N, and S) molecule, the preferred high-symmetric adsorption sites were determined, dominated by the onefold top site. For protected systems, 4XO/Ir4 and 6XO/Ir6, we found a reduction in the total magnetic moment, while the equilibrium bonds of the nanoclusters expanded (contracted) due to mCO and mNO (mSO) adsorption, with exceptions for systems with large structural distortions (4SO/Ir4 and 6NO/Ir6). Meanwhile, the C-O and N-O (S-O) bond strength decreases (increases) following an increase (decrease) in the C-O and N-O (S-O) distances upon adsorption. We show, through energetic analysis, that for the different chemical environments, relative stability changes occur from the most stable unprotected nanoclusters, planar square (Ir4), and prism (Ir6) to higher energy isomers. The change in the stability order between the two competing protected systems is feasible if the balance between the interaction energy (additive term) and distortion energies (nonadditive terms) compensates for the relative total energies of the unprotected configurations. For all systems, the interaction energy is the main reason responsible for stability alterations, except for 4SO/Ir4, where the main contribution is from a small penalty due to Ir4 distortions upon adsorption, and for 4NO/Ir4, where the energetic effects from the adsorption do not overcome the difference between the binding energies of the unprotected nanoclusters. Finally, from energy decomposition and Hirshfeld charge analysis, we find a predominant covalent nature of the physical contributions in mOX···Irn interactions with a cationic core (Irn) and an anionic shell (XO coverage).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex F Yonezawa
- Department of Physics, Federal University of Pelotas, PO Box 354, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Glaucio R Nagurniak
- Department of Exact Sciences and Education, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 89036-004 Blumenau, SC, Brazil
| | - Renato P Orenha
- Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade de Franca, 14404-600 Franca, SP, Brazil
| | - Eder H da Silva
- Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade de Franca, 14404-600 Franca, SP, Brazil
| | - Renato L T Parreira
- Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade de Franca, 14404-600 Franca, SP, Brazil
| | - Maurício J Piotrowski
- Department of Physics, Federal University of Pelotas, PO Box 354, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil
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23
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Zhou M, Jin R. Optical Properties and Excited-State Dynamics of Atomically Precise Gold Nanoclusters. Annu Rev Phys Chem 2021; 72:121-142. [PMID: 33297734 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physchem-090419-104921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the excited-state dynamics of nanomaterials is essential to their applications in photoenergy storage and conversion. This review summarizes recent progress in the excited-state dynamics of atomically precise gold (Au) nanoclusters (NCs). We first discuss the electronic structure and typical relaxation pathways of Au NCs from subpicoseconds to microseconds. Unlike plasmonic Au nanoparticles, in which collective electron excitation dominates, Au NCs show single-electron transitions and molecule-like exciton dynamics. The size-, shape-, structure-, and composition-dependent dynamics in Au NCs are further discussed in detail. For small-sized Au NCs, strong quantum confinement effects give rise to relaxation dynamics that is significantly dependent on atomic packing, shape, and heteroatom doping. For relatively larger-sized Au NCs, strong size dependence can be observed in exciton and electron dynamics. We also discuss the origin of coherent oscillations and their roles in excited-state relaxation. Finally, we provide our perspective on future directions in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA;
| | - Rongchao Jin
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA;
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24
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Kang X, Wei X, Jin S, Wang S, Zhu M. Controlling the Crystallographic Packing Modes of Pt 1Ag 28 Nanoclusters: Effects on the Optical Properties and Nitrogen Adsorption-Desorption Performances. Inorg Chem 2021; 60:4198-4206. [PMID: 33103416 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c02570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We herein report the manipulation of the crystallographic packing modes of Pt1Ag28(S-Adm)18(PPh3)4 nanoclusters by altering counterions as different polyoxometalates (POMs). Specifically, the Cl- anion of the presynthesized Pt1Ag28 nanocluster was substituted by POM anions including [Mo6O19]2-, [W6O19]2-, or [PW12O40]3-. The crystal lattices of these Pt1Ag28 nanoclusters with diverse anions showed distinct packing modes and thus manifested remarkably distinguishable crystalline-state optical properties and nitrogen adsorption-desorption performances. Overall, the combination of intercluster control in this work and intracluster control reported previously (the control over metal-ligand within the nanocluster framework) accomplished a more comprehensive manipulation over the M29(SR)18(PR'3)4 nanocluster system, which enables us to further grasp the structure-property correlations at the atomic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Kang
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials, Ministry of Education, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, P. R. China
| | - Xiao Wei
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials, Ministry of Education, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, P. R. China
| | - Shan Jin
- Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials, Ministry of Education, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, P. R. China.,Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, P. R. China
| | - Shuxin Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials, Ministry of Education, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, P. R. China
| | - Manzhou Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials, Ministry of Education, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, P. R. China
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25
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Khatun E, Pradeep T. New Routes for Multicomponent Atomically Precise Metal Nanoclusters. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:1-16. [PMID: 33458454 PMCID: PMC7807469 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c04832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Atomically precise metal nanoclusters (NCs), protected by a monolayer of ligands, are regarded as potential building blocks for advanced technologies. They are considered as intermediates between the atomic/molecular regime and the bulk. Incorporation of foreign metals in NCs enhances several of their properties such as catalytic activity, luminescence, and so on; hence, it is of high importance for tuning their properties and broadening the scope of applications. In most of the cases, enhancement in specific properties was observed upon alloying due to the synergistic effect. In the past several years, many alloy clusters have been synthesized, which show a tremendous change in the properties than their monometallic analogs. However, controlling the synthesis and tuning the structures of alloy NCs with atomic precision are major challenges. Various synthetic methodologies have been developed so far for the controlled synthesis of alloy NCs. In this perspective, we have highlighted those diverse synthetic routes to prepare alloys, which include co-reduction, galvanic reduction, antigalvanic reduction, metal deposition, ligand exchange, intercluster reaction, and reaction of NCs with bulk metals. Advancement in synthetic procedures will help in the preparation of alloy NCs with the desired structure and composition. Future perceptions concerning the progress of alloy nanocluster science are also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esma Khatun
- Department of Chemistry,
DST Unit of Nanoscience (DST UNS) and Thematic Unit of Excellence
(TUE), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Thalappil Pradeep
- Department of Chemistry,
DST Unit of Nanoscience (DST UNS) and Thematic Unit of Excellence
(TUE), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
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26
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Vuong VQ, Madridejos JML, Aradi B, Sumpter BG, Metha GF, Irle S. Density-functional tight-binding for phosphine-stabilized nanoscale gold clusters. Chem Sci 2020; 11:13113-13128. [PMID: 34094493 PMCID: PMC8163209 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc04514d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a parameterization of the second-order density-functional tight-binding (DFTB2) method for the quantum chemical simulation of phosphine-ligated nanoscale gold clusters, metalloids, and gold surfaces. Our parameterization extends the previously released DFTB2 "auorg" parameter set by connecting it to the electronic parameter of phosphorus in the "mio" parameter set. Although this connection could technically simply be accomplished by creating only the required additional Au-P repulsive potential, we found that the Au 6p and P 3d virtual atomic orbital energy levels exert a strong influence on the overall performance of the combined parameter set. Our optimized parameters are validated against density functional theory (DFT) geometries, ligand binding and cluster isomerization energies, ligand dissociation potential energy curves, and molecular orbital energies for relevant phosphine-ligated Au n clusters (n = 2-70), as well as selected experimental X-ray structures from the Cambridge Structural Database. In addition, we validate DFTB simulated far-IR spectra for several phosphine- and thiolate-ligated gold clusters against experimental and DFT spectra. The transferability of the parameter set is evaluated using DFT and DFTB potential energy surfaces resulting from the chemisorption of a PH3 molecule on the gold (111) surface. To demonstrate the potential of the DFTB method for quantum chemical simulations of metalloid gold clusters that are challenging for traditional DFT calculations, we report the predicted molecular geometry, electronic structure, ligand binding energy, and IR spectrum of Au108S24(PPh3)16.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van Quan Vuong
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, University of Tennessee Knoxville TN USA
| | | | - Bálint Aradi
- Bremen Center for Computational Materials Science, University of Bremen Bremen Germany
| | - Bobby G Sumpter
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge TN USA
- Computational Sciences and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge TN USA
| | - Gregory F Metha
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Adelaide South Australia 5005 Australia
| | - Stephan Irle
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, University of Tennessee Knoxville TN USA
- Computational Sciences and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge TN USA
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27
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Xu S, Zhang Y, Wei Y, Tian G. Ground and excited state geometrical and optical properties of Au (n = 2–13) nanoclusters: A first-principles study. COMPUT THEOR CHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.comptc.2020.113007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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28
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Adeagbo A, Wei T, Clayborne AZ. Computational Comparative Analysis of Small Atomically Precise Copper Clusters. J Phys Chem A 2020; 124:6504-6510. [PMID: 32692183 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.0c03992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Atomically precise copper clusters (APC) have attracted attention for their promise in sensing, water remediation, and electrochemical technologies. However, smaller-sized APCs and the evolution of their properties as a function of size and composition are not clearly understood. Here, we have performed an investigation into the electronic structure, geometry, and optical properties of small atomically precise copper clusters using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT. Through comparative analysis, we show that the electronic structures of the experimentally characterized clusters, Cu4(PN(C6H5)2CH)4 and Cu4(SN2C7H11)4, are similar with the closed-shell superatom character 1S21P2. By changing the ligand on Cu4(PN(C6H5)2CH)4 and Cu4(SN2C7H11)4, there were no major changes observed in the tetrahedral Cu4 core geometry, electronic structure, or optical spectra. However, a change in the anchor atom causes an increase in the electronic gap and induces a hypochromic shift in the onset peak in the optical spectrum of the small clusters. Increasing the copper core size showed small changes Cu-Cu bond lengths, lower electronic gap values, and a bathochromic shift in the optical spectra. Computational results not only provide detailed physical insight into APCs but also aid in identifying compound compositions of small atomically precise nanoclusters from data collected in the experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adebola Adeagbo
- Department of Chemistry, Howard University, Washington, District of Columbia 20059, United States
| | - Tao Wei
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Howard University, Washington, District of Columbia 20059, United States
| | - Andre Z Clayborne
- Department of Chemistry, Howard University, Washington, District of Columbia 20059, United States
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29
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Kang X, Li Y, Zhu M, Jin R. Atomically precise alloy nanoclusters: syntheses, structures, and properties. Chem Soc Rev 2020; 49:6443-6514. [PMID: 32760953 DOI: 10.1039/c9cs00633h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 287] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Metal nanoclusters fill the gap between discrete atoms and plasmonic nanoparticles, providing unique opportunities for investigating the quantum effects and precise structure-property correlations at the atomic level. As a versatile strategy, alloying can largely improve the physicochemical performances compared to the corresponding homo-metal nanoclusters, and thus benefit the applications of such nanomaterials. In this review, we highlight the achievements of atomically precise alloy nanoclusters, and summarize the alloying principles and fundamentals, including the synthetic methods, site-preferences for different heteroatoms in the templates, and alloying-induced structure and property changes. First, based on various Au or Ag nanocluster templates, heteroatom doping modes are presented. The templates with electronic shell-closing configurations tend to maintain their structures during doping, while the others may undergo transformation and give rise to alloy nanoclusters with new structures. Second, alloy nanoclusters of specific magic sizes are reviewed. The arrangement of different atoms is related to the symmetry of the structures; that is, different atoms are symmetrically located in the nanoclusters of smaller sizes, and evolve into shell-by-shell structures at larger sizes. Then, we elaborate on the alloying effects in terms of optical, electrochemical, electroluminescent, magnetic and chiral properties, as well as the stability and reactivity via comparisons between the doped nanoclusters and their homo-metal counterparts. For example, central heteroatom-induced photoluminescence enhancement is emphasized. The applications of alloy nanoclusters in catalysis, chemical sensing, bio-labeling, and other fields are further discussed. Finally, we provide perspectives on existing issues and future efforts. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive synthetic toolbox and controllable doping modes so as to achieve more alloy nanoclusters with customized compositions, structures, and properties for applications. This review is based on publications available up to February 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Kang
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China.
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30
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Yourston L, Rolband L, West C, Lushnikov A, Afonin KA, Krasnoslobodtsev AV. Tuning properties of silver nanoclusters with RNA nanoring assemblies. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:16189-16200. [PMID: 32705105 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr03589k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Combining atomically resolved DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) with nucleic acid nanotechnology opens new exciting possibilities for engineering bioinorganic nanomaterials with uniquely tunable properties. In this unforeseen cooperation, nucleic acids not only drive the formation of AgNCs but also promote their spatial organization in supra-assemblies. In this work, we confirm the feasibility of this approach using programmable RNA rings to control formation and optical properteis of six individual AgNCs. "Red" (λEXC/λEM = 565/623 nm) and "green" (λEXC/λEM = 440/523 nm) emitting AgNCs are templated on cytosine-rich DNA fragments embedded into the RNA rings. Optical properties of the AgNCs formed on the RNA rings are characterized in detail. While all "red" species passively transition to "green" emitters with time, the initial fluorescent properties and relative stabilities of "red" AgNCs can be regulated by altering the relative orientation of AgNCs within the RNA rings. As such, the oxidative stability increases dramatically for AgNC positioned towards the center of the RNA rings rather than facing outward. Overall, our findings expand the existing AgNC fluorescent toolkit while uncovering the complexity of the AgNC electronic structures with the abundance of possibilities for controlling de-excitation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Yourston
- Department of Physics, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA.
| | - Lewis Rolband
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Caroline West
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Alexander Lushnikov
- Nanoimaging Core Facility at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Alexey V Krasnoslobodtsev
- Department of Physics, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA. and Nanoimaging Core Facility at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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31
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Kang X, Wei X, Wang S, Zhu M. Controlling the Phosphine Ligands of Pt1Ag28(S-Adm)18(PR3)4 Nanoclusters. Inorg Chem 2020; 59:8736-8743. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c00350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xi Kang
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials of Ministry of Education, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, PR China
| | - Xiao Wei
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials of Ministry of Education, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, PR China
| | - Shuxin Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials of Ministry of Education, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, PR China
| | - Manzhou Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials of Ministry of Education, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, PR China
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32
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Yuan P, Zhang R, Selenius E, Ruan P, Yao Y, Zhou Y, Malola S, Häkkinen H, Teo BK, Cao Y, Zheng N. Solvent-mediated assembly of atom-precise gold-silver nanoclusters to semiconducting one-dimensional materials. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2229. [PMID: 32376829 PMCID: PMC7203111 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16062-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Bottom-up design of functional device components based on nanometer-sized building blocks relies on accurate control of their self-assembly behavior. Atom-precise metal nanoclusters are well-characterizable building blocks for designing tunable nanomaterials, but it has been challenging to achieve directed assembly to macroscopic functional cluster-based materials with highly anisotropic properties. Here, we discover a solvent-mediated assembly of 34-atom intermetallic gold-silver clusters protected by 20 1-ethynyladamantanes into 1D polymers with Ag-Au-Ag bonds between neighboring clusters as shown directly by the atomic structure from single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Density functional theory calculations predict that the single crystals of cluster polymers have a band gap of about 1.3 eV. Field-effect transistors fabricated with single crystals of cluster polymers feature highly anisotropic p-type semiconductor properties with ≈1800-fold conductivity in the direction of the polymer as compared to cross directions, hole mobility of ≈0.02 cm2 V-1 s-1, and an ON/OFF ratio up to ≈4000. This performance holds promise for further design of functional cluster-based materials with highly anisotropic semiconducting properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Preparation Technology of Nanomaterials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
| | - Ruihua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Preparation Technology of Nanomaterials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
| | - Elli Selenius
- Departments of Physics and Chemistry, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Pengpeng Ruan
- State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Preparation Technology of Nanomaterials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
| | - Yangrong Yao
- State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Preparation Technology of Nanomaterials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Preparation Technology of Nanomaterials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
| | - Sami Malola
- Departments of Physics and Chemistry, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Hannu Häkkinen
- Departments of Physics and Chemistry, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - Boon K Teo
- State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Preparation Technology of Nanomaterials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
| | - Yang Cao
- State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Preparation Technology of Nanomaterials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China.
| | - Nanfeng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Preparation Technology of Nanomaterials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China.
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33
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Wu X, Gao Y, Xie W, Wang Z. Bonding properties of a superatom system with high- Z elements: insights from energy decomposition analysis. RSC Adv 2020; 10:14482-14486. [PMID: 35497141 PMCID: PMC9051896 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra01644f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Superatoms with high-Z elements have novel physicochemical properties, and a comprehensive and thorough view of their bonding properties plays a crucial role in the design of superatoms. Now, energy decomposition analysis shows increasingly prominent performance for understanding inter- and intra-molecular interactions, so the bonding properties of typical superatoms with high-Z elements, Th@Au14, have been investigated here. It is found that under different electron occupation types of the fragments, the electrostatic interaction energy, polarization, and exchange repulsion energy change significantly in their intramolecular interaction energy components, resulting in quantitative or even qualitative differences in their main interaction energy. This indicates that the bonding properties of fragments are related to their electronic structures, and even has extraordinary reference value for the future regulation and control of interactions in superatoms with high-Z elements, which has great significance for superatom development. Superatoms with high-Z elements have novel physicochemical properties, and a comprehensive and thorough view of their bonding properties plays a crucial role in the design of superatoms.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochen Wu
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Physics, Jilin University Changchun 130012 China
| | - Yang Gao
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Physics, Jilin University Changchun 130012 China
| | - Weiyu Xie
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Physics, Jilin University Changchun 130012 China
| | - Zhigang Wang
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Physics, Jilin University Changchun 130012 China
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34
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Mato J, Guidez EB. Accuracy of the PM6 and PM7 Methods on Bare and Thiolate-Protected Gold Nanoclusters. J Phys Chem A 2020; 124:2601-2615. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.9b11474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joani Mato
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado 80217, United States
| | - Emilie B. Guidez
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado 80217, United States
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35
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Persaud RR, Chen M, Dixon DA. Prediction of Structures and Atomization Energies of Coinage Metals, (M) n, n < 20: Extrapolation of Normalized Clustering Energies to Predict the Cohesive Energy. J Phys Chem A 2020; 124:1775-1786. [PMID: 32032484 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.9b11801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The geometries of the group 11 coinage metals (n = 2-20) were optimized to determine the lowest energy isomers for each cluster size, singlets for even numbers and doublets for odd numbers. For copper and silver, 2-D (planar) geometries were favored up to n = 6. For gold, 2D (planar) geometries were favored up to n = 13. Normalized clustering energies were plotted as a function of cluster size (n-1/3, for n = 4-20) with various DFT functionals and the CCSD(T)-F12b method and were extrapolated to predict the bulk cohesive energy. In the case of copper and silver, there is excellent agreement between the cohesive energies predicted at the CCSD(T)-F12b level of theory and the experimental values. For gold, the CCSD(T)-F12b values needed to be corrected for spin-orbit relativistic effects to obtain good agreement with experiment. Electronic properties including the HOMO-LUMO gaps for the even clusters and the spin densities for the odd clusters were calculated. The lowest gap is predicted to occur for n = 16 where the HOMO and LUMO are very similar in shape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudradatt Randy Persaud
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Alabama, Shelby Hall, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0336, United States
| | - Mingyang Chen
- Center for Green Innovation, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.,Beijing Computational Science Research Center, Beijing 100193, China
| | - David A Dixon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Alabama, Shelby Hall, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0336, United States
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36
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Sudheeshkumar V, Sulaiman KO, Scott RWJ. Activation of atom-precise clusters for catalysis. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2020; 2:55-69. [PMID: 36133968 PMCID: PMC9417207 DOI: 10.1039/c9na00549h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The use of atom-precise, ligand-protected metal clusters has exceptional promise towards the fabrication of model supported-nanoparticle heterogeneous catalysts which have controlled sizes and compositions. One major challenge in the field involves the ease at which metallic clusters sinter upon removal of protected ligands, thus destroying the structural integrity of the model system. This review focuses on methods used to activate atom-precise thiolate-stabilized clusters for heterogeneous catalysis, and strategies that can be used to mitigate sintering. Thermal activation is the most commonly employed approach to activate atom-precise metal clusters, though a variety of chemical and photochemical activation strategies have also been reported. Material chemistry methods that can mitigate sintering are also explored, which include overcoating of clusters with metal oxide supports fabricated by sol-gel chemistry or atomic layer deposition of thin oxide films or encapsulating clusters within porous supports. In addition to focusing on the preservation of the size and morphology of deprotected metal clusters, the fate of the removed ligands is also explored, because detached and/or oxidized ligands can also greatly influence the overall properties of the catalyst systems. We also show that modern characterization techniques such as X-ray absorption spectroscopy and high-resolution electron microscopy have the capacity to enable careful monitoring of particle sintering upon activation of metal clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Sudheeshkumar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan 110 Science Place Saskatoon Saskatchewan S7N 5C9 Canada
| | - Kazeem O Sulaiman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan 110 Science Place Saskatoon Saskatchewan S7N 5C9 Canada
| | - Robert W J Scott
- Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan 110 Science Place Saskatoon Saskatchewan S7N 5C9 Canada
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Kang X, Jin S, Xiong L, Wei X, Zhou M, Qin C, Pei Y, Wang S, Zhu M. Nanocluster growth via "graft-onto": effects on geometric structures and optical properties. Chem Sci 2019; 11:1691-1697. [PMID: 32206290 PMCID: PMC7069245 DOI: 10.1039/c9sc05700e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of “graft-onto” has been exploited to facilitate nanocluster growth from Pt1Ag28 to Pt1Ag31.
Atomically precise engineering on the nanocluster surface remains highly desirable for the fundamental understanding of how surface structures of a nanocluster contribute to its overall properties. In this paper, the concept of “graft-onto” has been exploited to facilitate nanocluster growth on surface structures. Specifically, the Ag2(DPPM)Cl2 complex is used for re-constructing the surface structure of Pt1Ag28(SR)18(PPh3)4 (Pt1Ag28, SR = 1-adamantanethiolate) and producing a size-growth nanocluster – Pt1Ag31(SR)16(DPPM)3Cl3 (Pt1Ag31). The grafting effect of Ag2(DPPM)Cl2 induces both direct changes on the surface structure (e.g., size growth, structural transformation, and surface rotation) and indirect changes on the kernel structure (from a fcc configuration to an icosahedral configuration). Remarkable differences have been observed by comparing optical properties between Pt1Ag28 and Pt1Ag31. Significantly, Pt1Ag31 exhibits high photo-luminescent intensity with a quantum yield of 29.3%, which is six times that of the Pt1Ag28. Overall, this work presents a new approach (i.e., graft-onto) for the precise dictation of nanocluster surface structures at the atomic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Kang
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials , Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials , Anhui University , Hefei , Anhui 230601 , P. R. China . ; .,Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials , Anhui University , Ministry of Education , Hefei , 230601 , P. R. China
| | - Shan Jin
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology , Anhui University , Hefei , Anhui 230601 , P. R. China
| | - Lin Xiong
- Department of Chemistry , Key Laboratory of Environmentally Friendly Chemistry and Applications of Ministry of Education , Xiangtan University , Xiangtan , Hunan 411105 , China
| | - Xiao Wei
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials , Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials , Anhui University , Hefei , Anhui 230601 , P. R. China . ; .,Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials , Anhui University , Ministry of Education , Hefei , 230601 , P. R. China
| | - Manman Zhou
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials , Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials , Anhui University , Hefei , Anhui 230601 , P. R. China . ; .,Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials , Anhui University , Ministry of Education , Hefei , 230601 , P. R. China
| | - Chenwanli Qin
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials , Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials , Anhui University , Hefei , Anhui 230601 , P. R. China . ; .,Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials , Anhui University , Ministry of Education , Hefei , 230601 , P. R. China
| | - Yong Pei
- Department of Chemistry , Key Laboratory of Environmentally Friendly Chemistry and Applications of Ministry of Education , Xiangtan University , Xiangtan , Hunan 411105 , China
| | - Shuxin Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials , Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials , Anhui University , Hefei , Anhui 230601 , P. R. China . ; .,Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials , Anhui University , Ministry of Education , Hefei , 230601 , P. R. China
| | - Manzhou Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials , Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials , Anhui University , Hefei , Anhui 230601 , P. R. China . ; .,Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology , Anhui University , Hefei , Anhui 230601 , P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials , Anhui University , Ministry of Education , Hefei , 230601 , P. R. China
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Lv Y, Ma X, Chai J, Yu H, Zhu M. Face-Centered-Cubic Ag Nanoclusters: Origins and Consequences of the High Structural Regularity Elucidated by Density Functional Theory Calculations. Chemistry 2019; 25:13977-13986. [PMID: 31429505 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201903183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Face-centered-cubic (FCC) silver nanoclusters (NCs) adopting either cubic or half-cubic growth modes have been recently reported, but the origin of these atomic assembly patterns and how they are achieved, which would inform our understanding of larger FCC silver nanomaterials, are both unknown. In this study, the cubic and half-cubic growth modes have been unified based on common structural characteristics, and differentiated depending on the starting blocks (cubic vs. half cubic). In both categories, the silver atoms adopt octahedral Ag6 , linear AgS2 (in projection drawing), or tetrahedral AgS3 P binding modes, and the sulfur atoms adopt T-shaped SAg3 and orthogonal SAg4 modes. An additional T-shaped AgS3 mode is oriented on the surface edge in cubic NCs to complete the cubic framework. Density functional theory calculations indicated that the high structural regularity originates from the strong diffusing capacity of the Ag(5d) and S(3p) orbitals, and the angular momentum distribution of the formed superatomic orbitals. The equatorial orientation of μ4 -S or μ4 -Ag determines whether growth stops or continues. In particular, a density-of-states analysis indicated that the octahedral silver atoms are chemically more reactive than the silver atoms in the AgS3 P motif, regardless of whether the parent NC functions as an electron donor or acceptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Lv
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of, Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for, Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Key Laboratory of, Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials (Anhui University), Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, P. R. China
| | - Xiangyu Ma
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of, Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for, Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Key Laboratory of, Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials (Anhui University), Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, P. R. China
| | - Jinsong Chai
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of, Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for, Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Key Laboratory of, Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials (Anhui University), Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, P. R. China
| | - Haizhu Yu
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of, Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for, Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Key Laboratory of, Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials (Anhui University), Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, P. R. China.,Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Anhui, 230601, P. R. China
| | - Manzhou Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of, Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for, Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Key Laboratory of, Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials (Anhui University), Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, P. R. China.,Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Anhui, 230601, P. R. China
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Kang X, Xu F, Wei X, Wang S, Zhu M. Valence self-regulation of sulfur in nanoclusters. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaax7863. [PMID: 31803835 PMCID: PMC6874481 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax7863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The valence self-regulation of sulfur from the "-2" valence state in thiols to the "-1" valence state in hydroxylated thiolates has been accomplished using the Pt1Ag28 nanocluster as a platform-the first time that the "-1" valent sulfur has been detected as S-1. Two previously unknown nanoclusters, Pt1Ag28(SR)20 and Pt1Ag28(SR)18(HO-SR)2 (where SR represents 2-adamantanethiol), have been synthesized and characterized-in the latter nanocluster, the presence of hydroxyl induces the valence regulation of two special S atoms from "-2" (in SR) to "-1" valence state in the HO-S(Ag)R. Because of the contrasting nature of the capping ligands in these two nanoclusters [i.e., only SR in Pt1Ag28(SR)20 or both SR- and HO-SR- in Pt1Ag28(SR)18(HO-SR)2], they exhibit differing shell architectures, even though their cores (Pt1Ag12) are in the same icosahedral configuration. Single-crystal x-ray diffraction analysis revealed their 1:1 cocrystallization, and mass spectrometry verified the presence of hydroxyls on Pt1Ag28(SR)18(HO-SR)2.
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Kuda-Singappulige GU, Aikens CM. Geometrical and Electronic Structure, Stability, and Optical Absorption Spectra Comparisons between Thiolate- and Chloride-Stabilized Gold Nanoclusters. J Phys Chem A 2019; 123:9712-9720. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.9b06598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Christine M. Aikens
- Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
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Kang X, Zhu M. Metal Nanoclusters Stabilized by Selenol Ligands. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1902703. [PMID: 31482648 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201902703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The past decades have witnessed great advances in controllable synthesis, structure determination, and property investigation of metal nanoclusters. Selenolated nanoclusters, a special branch in the nanocluster family, have attracted great interest in these years. The electronegativity and atomic radius of selenium is different from sulfur, and thus the selenolated nanoclusters are anticipated to display different electronic/geometric structures and distinct chemical/physical properties relative to their thiolated analogues. This review covers the syntheses, structures, and properties of selenolated nanoclusters (including Au, Ag, Cu, and alloy nanoclusters). Ligand effects (between SeR and SR) on nanocluster properties, including optical absorption, stability, and electrochemical properties, are disclosed as well. At the end of the review, a scope for improvements and future perspectives of selenolated nanoclusters is highlighted. The review hopefully opens up new horizons for cluster scientists to synthesize more selenolated nanoclusters with novel structures and properties. This review is based on publications available up to May 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Kang
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China
| | - Manzhou Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China
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Rational construction of a library of M 29 nanoclusters from monometallic to tetrametallic. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:18834-18840. [PMID: 31488725 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1912719116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Exploring intermetallic synergy has allowed a series of alloy nanoparticles with prominent chemical-physical properties to be produced. However, precise alloying based on a maintained template has long been a challenging pursuit, and little has been achieved for manipulation at the atomic level. Here, a nanosystem based on M29(S-Adm)18(PPh3)4 (where S-Adm is the adamantane mercaptan and M is Ag/Cu/Au/Pt/Pd) has been established, which leads to the atomically precise operation on each site in this M29 template. Specifically, a library of 21 species of nanoclusters ranging from monometallic to tetrametallic constitutions has been successfully prepared step by step with in situ synthesis, target metal-exchange, and forced metal-exchange methods. More importantly, owing to the monodispersity of each nanocluster in this M29 library, the synergetic effects on the optical properties and stability have been mapped out. This nanocluster methodology not only provides fundamental principles to produce alloy nanoclusters with multimetallic compositions and monodispersed dopants but also provides an intriguing nanomodel that enables us to grasp the intermetallic synergy at the atomic level.
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43
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A method for structure prediction of metal-ligand interfaces of hybrid nanoparticles. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3973. [PMID: 31481712 PMCID: PMC6722058 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12031-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hybrid metal nanoparticles, consisting of a nano-crystalline metal core and a protecting shell of organic ligand molecules, have applications in diverse areas such as biolabeling, catalysis, nanomedicine, and solar energy. Despite a rapidly growing database of experimentally determined atom-precise nanoparticle structures and their properties, there has been no successful, systematic way to predict the atomistic structure of the metal-ligand interface. Here, we devise and validate a general method to predict the structure of the metal-ligand interface of ligand-stabilized gold and silver nanoparticles, based on information about local chemical environments of atoms in experimental data. In addition to predicting realistic interface structures, our method is useful for investigations on the steric effects at the metal-ligand interface, as well as for predicting isomers and intermediate structures induced by thermal dynamics or interactions with the environment. Our method is applicable to other hybrid nanomaterials once a suitable set of reference structures is available. Atomistic structure prediction of the metal-ligand interface of hybrid nanoparticles remains challenging. Here the authors present an algorithm to predict the structure of the metal-ligand interface of ligand-stabilized gold and silver nanoparticles, guided by experimental data on local chemical environments.
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44
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Intra-cluster growth meets inter-cluster assembly: The molecular and supramolecular chemistry of atomically precise nanoclusters. Coord Chem Rev 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2019.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Kang X, Abroshan H, Wang S, Zhu M. Free Valence Electron Centralization Strategy for Preparing Ultrastable Nanoclusters and Their Catalytic Application. Inorg Chem 2019; 58:11000-11009. [PMID: 31386346 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b01545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Metal nanoclusters have attracted extensive interests owing to their atomically precise structures as well as intriguing properties. However, silver nanoclusters are not as stable as their gold counterparts, impeding the practical applications of Ag nanoclusters. In this work, a strategy of free valence electron centralization was exploited to render parent Ag nanoclusters highly stable. The stability of Ag29(SSR)12(PPh3)4 (SSR: benzene-1,3-dithiol) was controllably enhanced by stepwisely alloying the Ag29 nanocluster to Ag17Cu12(SSR)12(PPh3)4 and Au1Ag16Cu12(SSR)12(PPh3)4. Specifically, the trimetallic Au1Ag16Cu12 is ultrastable even at 175 °C, which is close to the nanocluster decomposition temperature. The structures of Ag17Cu12 and Au1Ag16Cu12 nanoclusters are determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, a combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements and density functional theory calculations demonstrates that the enhanced stability is induced by the centralization of the free valence electrons to the interior of the nanocluster. More importantly, the Au1Ag16Cu12 enables the multicomponent A3 coupling reaction at high temperatures, which remarkably shortens the catalytic reaction time from ∼5 h to 3 min. Overall, this work presents a strategy for enhancing the thermal stability of nanoclusters via centralizing the free valence electrons to the nanocluster kernels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Kang
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials , Anhui University , Hefei 230601 , Anhui , China
| | - Hadi Abroshan
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering , Stanford University , 443 Via Ortega , Stanford 94305 , California , United States
| | - Shuxin Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials , Anhui University , Hefei 230601 , Anhui , China
| | - Manzhou Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials , Anhui University , Hefei 230601 , Anhui , China
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46
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Kang X, Huang L, Liu W, Xiong L, Pei Y, Sun Z, Wang S, Wei S, Zhu M. Reversible nanocluster structure transformation between face-centered cubic and icosahedral isomers. Chem Sci 2019; 10:8685-8693. [PMID: 31803443 PMCID: PMC6849490 DOI: 10.1039/c9sc02667c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The reversible transformation between a FCC and icosahedral configuration has been achieved at the atomic level, based on Pt1Ag28 nanocluster isomers.
Structural transformations between isomers of nanoclusters provide a platform to tune their properties and understand the fundamental science due to their intimate structure–property correlation. Herein, we demonstrate a reversible transformation between the face-centered cubic (FCC) and icosahedral isomers of Pt1Ag28 nanoclusters accomplished in the ligand-exchange processes. Ligand-exchange of 1-adamantanethiolate protected Pt1Ag28 by cyclohexanethiolate could transform the FCC kernel to the icosahedral isomer. Interestingly, the icosahedral Pt1Ag28 could be reversibly transformed to the FCC configuration when the cyclohexanethiolate ligand is replaced again by 1-adamantanethiolate. A combination of UV-vis absorption, mass spectrometry, photo-luminescence and X-ray absorption fine structure unambiguously identifies that the FCC-to-icosahedral structure transformation of Pt1Ag28 involves two distinct stages: (i) ligand-exchange induced outmost motif transformation and (ii) abrupt innermost kernel transformation. As a result of this structural transformation, the emission wavelength of Pt1Ag28 red-shifts from 672 to 720 nm, and the HOMO–LUMO energy gap reduces from 1.86 to 1.74 eV. This work presents the first example of nanocluster isomers with inter-switching configurations, and will provide new insights into manipulating the properties of nanoclusters through controllably tuning their structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Kang
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials , Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials , Anhui University , Hefei , Anhui 230601 , China . ;
| | - Li Huang
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory , University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei , Anhui 230029 , China .
| | - Wei Liu
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory , University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei , Anhui 230029 , China .
| | - Lin Xiong
- Department of Chemistry , Key Laboratory of Environmentally Friendly Chemistry and Applications of Ministry of Education , Xiangtan University , Xiangtan , Hunan 411105 , China
| | - Yong Pei
- Department of Chemistry , Key Laboratory of Environmentally Friendly Chemistry and Applications of Ministry of Education , Xiangtan University , Xiangtan , Hunan 411105 , China
| | - Zhihu Sun
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory , University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei , Anhui 230029 , China .
| | - Shuxin Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials , Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials , Anhui University , Hefei , Anhui 230601 , China . ;
| | - Shiqiang Wei
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory , University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei , Anhui 230029 , China .
| | - Manzhou Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials , Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials , Anhui University , Hefei , Anhui 230601 , China . ;
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Samieegohar M, Sha F, Clayborne AZ, Wei T. ReaxFF MD Simulations of Peptide-Grafted Gold Nanoparticles. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:5029-5036. [PMID: 30869899 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b03951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Functionalized gold nanoparticles have critical applications in biodetection with surface-enhanced Raman spectrum and drug delivery. In this study, reactive force field molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study gold nanoparticles, which are modified with different short-chain peptides consisting of amino acid residues of cysteine and glycine in different grafting densities in the aqueous environment. Our study showed slight facet-dependent peptide adsorption on a gold nanoparticle with the 3 nm core diameter. Peptide chains prefer to adsorb on the Au(111) facet compared to those on other facets of Au(100) and Au(110). In addition to the stable thiol interaction with gold nanoparticle surfaces, polarizable oxygen and nitrogen atoms show strong interactions with the gold surface and polarize the gold nanoparticle surfaces with an overall positive charge. Charges of gold atoms vary according to their contacts with peptide atoms and lattice positions. However, at the outmost peptide layer, the whole functionalized Au nanoparticles exhibit overall negative electrostatic potential due to the grafted peptides. Moreover, simulations show that thiol groups can be deprotonated and subsequently protons can be transferred to water molecules and carboxyl groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadreza Samieegohar
- Chemical Engineering Department , Howard University , 2366 Sixth Street , Washington , District of Columbia 20059 , United States
| | - Feng Sha
- Network Information Center , Xiamen University of Technology , 600 Ligong Road , Jimei District, Xiamen 361024 , Fujian Province, China
| | - Andre Z Clayborne
- Chemistry Department , Howard University , 525 College Street , Washington , District of Columbia 20059 , United States
| | - Tao Wei
- Chemical Engineering Department , Howard University , 2366 Sixth Street , Washington , District of Columbia 20059 , United States
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Higaki T, Li Y, Zhao S, Li Q, Li S, Du X, Yang S, Chai J, Jin R. Atomically Tailored Gold Nanoclusters for Catalytic Application. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201814156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Higaki
- Department of Chemistry Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA 15213 USA
| | - Yingwei Li
- Department of Chemistry Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA 15213 USA
| | - Shuo Zhao
- Department of Chemistry Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA 15213 USA
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Chemistry Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA 15213 USA
| | - Site Li
- Department of Chemistry Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA 15213 USA
| | - Xiang‐Sha Du
- Department of Chemistry Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA 15213 USA
| | - Sha Yang
- Department of Chemistry Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA 15213 USA
| | - Jinsong Chai
- Department of Chemistry Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA 15213 USA
| | - Rongchao Jin
- Department of Chemistry Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA 15213 USA
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Higaki T, Li Y, Zhao S, Li Q, Li S, Du XS, Yang S, Chai J, Jin R. Atomically Tailored Gold Nanoclusters for Catalytic Application. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:8291-8302. [PMID: 30633857 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201814156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in the synthetic chemistry of atomically precise metal nanoclusters (NCs) have significantly broadened the accessible sizes and structures. Such particles are well defined and have intriguing properties, thus, they are attractive for catalysis. Especially, those NCs with identical size but different core (or surface) structure provide unique opportunities that allow the specific role of the core and the surface to be mapped out without complication by the size effect. Herein, we summarize recent work with isomeric Aun NCs protected by ligands and isostructural NCs but with different surface ligands. The highlighted work includes catalysis by spherical and rod-shaped Au25 (with different ligands), quasi-isomeric Au28 (SR)20 with different R groups, structural isomers of Au38 (SR)24 (with identical R) and Au38 S2 (SR)20 with body-centred cubic (bcc) structure, and isostructural [Au38 L20 (PPh3 )4 ]2+ (different L). These isomeric and/or isostructural NCs have provided valuable insights into the respective roles of the kernel, surface staples, and the type of ligands on catalysis. Future studies will lead to fundamental advances and development of tailor-made catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Higaki
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Yingwei Li
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Shuo Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Site Li
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Xiang-Sha Du
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Sha Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Jinsong Chai
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Rongchao Jin
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
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Abstract
Thiolate-protected metal nanoparticles containing a few to few hundred metal atoms are interesting materials exhibiting unique physicochemical properties. They encompass the bulk-to-molecule transition region, where discrete electronic states emerge and electronic band energetics yield to quantum confinement effects. Recent progresses in the synthesis and characterization of ultrasmall gold nanoparticles have opened up new avenues for the isolation of extremely monodispersed nanoparticles with atomically precision. These nanoparticles are also called nanoclusters to distinguish them from other regular metal nanoparticles with core diameter >2 nm. These nanoclusters are typically identified by their actual molecular formulas; prominent among these are Au25(SR)18, Au38(SR)24, and Au102(SR)44, where SR is organothiolate. A number of single crystal structures of these nanoclusters have been disclosed. Researchers have effectively utilized density functional theory (DFT) calculations to predict their atomic and electronic structures, as well as their physicochemical properties. The atomically precise metal nanoclusters have been the focus of recent studies owing to their novel size-specific electrochemical, optical, and catalytic properties. In this Account, we highlight recent advances in electrochemistry of atomically precise metal nanoclusters and their applications in electrocatalysis and electrochemical sensing. Compared with gold nanoclusters, much less progress has been made in the electrochemical studies of other metal nanoclusters, and thus, we mainly focus on the electrochemistry and electrochemical applications of gold-based nanoclusters. Voltammetry has been extremely powerful in investigating the electronic structure of metal nanoclusters, especially near HOMO and LUMO levels. A sizable opening of HOMO-LUMO gap observed for Au25(SR)18 gradually decreases with increasing nanocluster size, which is in line with the change in the optical gap. Heteroatom-doping has been a powerful strategy to modify the optical and electrochemical properties of metal nanoclusters at the atomic level. While the superatom theory predicts 8-electron configuration for [Au25(SR)18]- and many doped nanoclusters thereof, Pt- and Pd-doped [PtAu24(SR)18]0 and [PdAu24(SR)18]0 nanoclusters show dramatically different electronic structures, as manifested in their optical spectra and voltammograms, suggesting the occurrence of the Jahn-Teller distortion in these doped nanoclusters. Furthermore, metal-doping may alter their surface binding properties, as well as redox potentials. Metal nanoclusters offer great potential for attaining high activity and selectivity in their electrocatalytic applications. The well-defined core-shell structure of a metal nanocluster is of special advantage because the core and shell can be independently engineered to exhibit suitable binding properties and redox potentials. We discuss recent progress made in electrocatalysis based upon metal nanoclusters tailored for water splitting, CO2 conversion, and electrochemical sensing. A well-defined model nanocatalyst is absolutely necessary to reveal the detailed mechanism of electrocatalysis and thereby to lead to the development of a new efficient electrocatalyst. We envision that atomically controlled metal nanoclusters will enable us to systematically optimize the electrochemical and surface properties suitable for electrocatalysis, thus providing a powerful platform for the discovery of finely tuned nanocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyuju Kwak
- Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Dongil Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
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