title: Nonsuperatomic [Au23(SC6H11)16]- nanocluster featuring bipyramidal Au15 kernel and trimeric Au3(SR)4 motif.
abstract: We report the X-ray structure of a cyclohexanethiolate-capped [Au23(SR)16](-) nanocluster (counterion: tetraoctylammonium, TOA(+)). The structure comprises a cuboctahedron-based bipyramidal Au15 kernel, which is protected by two staple-like trimeric Au3(SR)4 motifs, two monomeric Au(SR)2 and four plain bridging SR ligands. Electronic structure analysis reveals nonsuperatomic feature of [Au23(SR)16](-) and confirms the Au15 kernel and surface motifs. The Au15 kernel and trimeric staple motif are unprecedented and offer new insight in understanding the structure evolution of gold nanoclusters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States.
authors.forename: Anindita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nobusada
authors.forename: Chenjie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Nathaniel L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Rosi
authors.forename: Rongchao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jin