Size and shape control of synthetic nanomaterials is of practical and fundamental importance for their myriad downstream applications. Para-mercaptobenozoic acid (p-MBA) is a capping ligand capable of generating water soluble magic number gold clusters of formulae Au102(p-MBA)44 and Au144(p-MBA)60. These clusters are isolated by adding a precipitating salt and alcohol. As a means to control the size, shape and yield of these clusters, we have investigated the role of the precipitating salt counterions in situ. Notably, we have found a direct relationship between the size of alkali metal chloride precipitant and the size of the nanocluster product.

Role of counterions on size of para-mercaptobenzoic acid capped magic number gold clusters

ACS Fall 2021

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