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Article
Template Synthesis of Subnanometer Gold Clusters in Interfacially Cross-Linked Reverse Micelles Mediated by Confined Counterions
Langmuir
  • Shiyong Zhang, Iowa State University
  • Yan Zhao, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Disciplines
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
1-1-2012
DOI
10.1021/la204694c
Abstract

A cationic surfactant with a triallylammonium headgroup was cross-linked photochemically in the presence of a hydrophilic dithiol in the reverse micelle (RM) configuration. The interfacially cross-linked reverse micelles (ICRMs) are unusual templates for nanomaterials synthesis. Our previous work indicated that the ICRMs could extract anionic metal salts such as tetracholoroaurate into the hydrophilic interior, and the entrapped aurate was reduced without externally added reducing agent to form subnanometer luminescent gold clusters [Zhang, S.; Zhao, Y. ACS Nano2011, 5, 2637–2646]. In this work, the bromide counterions were established as the reducing agent in the template synthesis. The reduction of tetrachloroaurate was proposed to happen through ligand exchange on the aurate by the bromide ions, reductive elimination of halogen, and disproportionation of the Au(I) intermediate. The size of the gold clusters could be tuned rationally by the water-to-surfactant ratio (W0) and the reducing agent. Monodisperse Au4 and Au9–10 clusters as well as larger Au18 and Au23 clusters were obtained from the ICRM templates. The as-prepared, metastable gold clusters were subject to reconstruction triggered by ligand exchange on the surface but could be stabilized through proper surface protection using a chelating dithiol.

Comments

Reprinted (adapted) with permission from Langmuir 28 (2012): 3606, doi:10.1021/la204694c. Copyright 2012 American Chemical Society.

Copyright Owner
American Chemical Society
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Shiyong Zhang and Yan Zhao. "Template Synthesis of Subnanometer Gold Clusters in Interfacially Cross-Linked Reverse Micelles Mediated by Confined Counterions" Langmuir Vol. 28 Iss. 7 (2012) p. 3606 - 3613
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/yan_zhao/8/