Electronic confinement in noble metal nanosystems is the key reason for their fascinating properties. 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] Just like molecules, the atomically precise noble metal nanoclusters show the phenomenon of
intercluster reactions in solution at the molecular timescale.[4] The monolayer protecting the nanocluster metal core tends to show supramolecular interactions, like, π-π, C-H…π, van der Waals
and electrostatic interactions. Using such interactions, nanoclusters form hybrid assemblies with other plasmonic nanostructures. 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 aims to explore 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. Atomically precise nanocluster, like, M25(SR)18 (where, M = Au/Ag and SR = 2-PET/2- DMBT), upon interaction with noble metal nano and bulk systems result in the formation of novel alloy materials. Mass spectrometric studies suggest a metal-exchange pathway for such reactions.
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.