title: Observation of sulfur on the surface of giant aurothiol nanoclusters.
abstract: We report the study of aurothiol nanoclusters using high-resolution electron microscopy, energy loss spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger spectroscopy, and microscopy. It is concluded that the sulfur atoms are located on the surface of the gold nanoparticles in both (100) and (111) microfacets. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data show that there is a Au-Au bond as well as a Au-S bond. Auger depth profile measurements made by sputtering of the nanoparticles corroborates that the sulfur is located on the surface of the nanoparticle. Quantitative Auger analysis indicates a ratio Au/S between approximately 1.79 and 1.98.
authors.affiliation: ININ, Km 36.5 Carr. Mexico-Toluca, Ocoyoacac, Estado de México 52045, Mexico.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gutierrez-Wing
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ascencio
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: De la Cruz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cota
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jose-Yacaman
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D003461:Crystallography / Q000379:methods; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C013976:dodecylmercaptan; D013455:Sulfur