title: The influence of core size on electronic coupling in shell-core nanoparticles: gold clusters capped with pyrenoxylalkylthiolate.
abstract: The mean size of the metallic core of monolayer-protected gold clusters densely capped with 9-(1-pyrenoxyl)octane-1-thiol or 1-dodecanethiol can be adjusted by controlling the thiol/HAuCl4 ratio during synthesis. Upon reduction of tetrachloroaurate by NaBH4, lower mean metal core diameters were attained in those composites prepared from mixtures with higher thiol/Au ratios. The efficiency of electronic coupling between the core metal cluster and pyrenyl groups appended as an outer shell in this size-graded family was studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The observed emission intensity from the bound fluorophores is independent of the gold core size.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8204, USA.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Canepa
authors.forename: Marye Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Whitesell