Thiolate-protected Au38(SR)24 nanocluster: Size-focusing synthesis, structure determination, intrinsic chirality, and beyond

Abstract

Thiolate-protected Au nanoclusters with core diameters smaller than 2 nm have captured considerable attention in recent years due to their diverse applications ranging from biological labeling to photovoltaics and catalysis. This new class of nanomaterials exhibits discrete electronic structure and molecular-like properties, such as HOMO-LUMO electronic transition, intrinsic magnetism, chiroptical properties, and enhanced catalytic properties. This review focuses on the research into thiolate-protected Au38(SR) 24-one of the most representative nanoclusters, including its identification, size-focusing synthesis, structure determination, and intrinsic chirality. The properties of two size-adjacent Au nanoclusters [Au 40(SR)24 and Au36(SR)24] are also discussed. The experimental and theoretical methodologies developed in studies of the Au38(SR)24 model nanocluster open up new opportunities in the synthesis and properties investigation of other atomically precise Aun(SR)m nanoclusters. © 2014 IUPAC and De Gruyter Berlin Boston.