Electronic confinement of noble metal systems at the nanoscale has resulted in various important scientific and technological advancements. In recent years, atomically precise noble metal nanoclusters have emerged as a new family of nanomaterials with precise composition and structure.[1, 2] Owing to their precise composition and discrete electronic structure, such precision materials show interesting molecule-like properties.[3] Besides their characteristic optical and electronic properties, these nanoclusters show unique chemical reactivity and sensitivity towards atomic exchange. Nanoclusters show unique reactivity with metal ions, metal complexes, and higher dimension materials resulting in new alloys, assemblies, etc. Reactions between nanoclusters (i.e. intercluster reactions), conserving composition and structure, involving atom exchange between two different types of nanoclusters are possible.[4] The knowledge of nanocluster reactivity gives an upper hand in controlling the composition of alloys and hybrid materials and also for engineering their properties.
Our research work is aimed at understanding the unique chemistry of atomically precise noble metal nanoclusters, sized less than 3 nm, as they react with higher dimension materials, such as nanoparticles and bulk materials. The proposal presents newer insights into reaction dynamics at the nanoscale.
References
1. Chakraborty, I. and T. Pradeep, Atomically Precise Clusters of Noble Metals: Emerging Link between Atoms and Nanoparticles. Chemical Reviews, 2017. 117(12): p. 8208-8271.
2. Jin, R., et al., Atomically Precise Colloidal Metal Nanoclusters and Nanoparticles: Fundamentals and Opportunities. Chemical Reviews, 2016. 116(18): p. 10346-10413.
3. Jin, R., Quantum sized, thiolate-protected gold nanoclusters. Nanoscale, 2010. 2(3): p. 343-362.
4. Krishnadas, K.R., et al., Interparticle Reactions: An Emerging Direction in Nanomaterials Chemistry. Accounts of Chemical Research, 2017. 50(8): p. 1988-1996.