title: Chemically synthesised atomically precise gold clusters deposited and activated on titania. Part II.
abstract: Synchrotron XPS was used to investigate a series of chemically synthesised, atomically precise gold clusters Au(n)(PPh3)y (n = 8, 9 and 101, y depending on the cluster size) immobilized on anatase (titania) nanoparticles. Effects of post-deposition treatments were investigated by comparison of untreated samples with analogues that have been heat treated at 200 °C in O2, or in O2 followed by H2 atmosphere. XPS data shows that the phosphine ligands are oxidised upon heat treatment in O2. From the position of the Au 4f(7/2) peak it can be concluded that the clusters partially agglomerate immediately upon deposition. Heating in oxygen, and subsequently in hydrogen, leads to further agglomeration of the gold clusters. It is found that the pre-treatment plays a crucial role in the removal of ligands and agglomeration of the clusters.
authors.affiliation: The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, and Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. vladimir.golovko@canterbury.ac.nz.
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Rohul H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Adnan
authors.forename: Jason F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Alvino
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Shipper
authors.forename: Baira
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Donoeva
authors.forename: Jan-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ruzicka
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al Qahtani
authors.forename: Hugh H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cowie
authors.forename: Jade B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Aitken
authors.forename: Vladimir B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Golovko
authors.forename: Gregory F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Metha
authors.forename: Gunther G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Andersson