Understanding seed-mediated growth of gold nanoclusters at molecular level

Qiaofeng Yao, Xun Yuan, Victor Fung, Yong Yu, David Tai Leong, Jiang De-en and Jianping Xie ()
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Qiaofeng Yao: National University of Singapore
Xun Yuan: National University of Singapore
Victor Fung: University of California
Yong Yu: National University of Singapore
David Tai Leong: National University of Singapore
Jiang De-en: University of California
Jianping Xie: National University of Singapore

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract The continuous development of total synthesis chemistry has allowed many organic and biomolecules to be produced with known synthetic history–that is, a complete set of step reactions in their synthetic routes. Here, we extend such molecular-level precise reaction routes to nanochemistry, particularly to a seed-mediated synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles. By systematically investigating the time−dependent abundance of 35 intermediate species in total, we map out relevant step reactions in a model size growth reaction from molecularly pure Au25 to Au44 nanoparticles. The size growth of Au nanoparticles involves two different size−evolution processes (monotonic LaMer growth and volcano-shaped aggregative growth), which are driven by a sequential 2-electron boosting of the valence electron count of Au nanoparticles. Such fundamental findings not only provide guiding principles to produce other sizes of Au nanoparticles (e.g., Au38), but also represent molecular-level insights on long-standing puzzles in nanochemistry, including LaMer growth, aggregative growth, and digestive ripening.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00970-1

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