title: Solvation chemistry of water-soluble thiol-protected gold nanocluster Au₁₀₂ from DOSY NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations.
abstract: The hydrodynamic diameter of Aum(pMBA)n [(m, n) = (102, 44) and (144, 60)] clusters in aqueous media was determined via DOSY NMR spectroscopy. The apparent size of the same (n, m) cluster depends on the counter ion of the deprotonated pMBA(-) ligand as explained by the competing ion-pair strength and hydrogen bonding interactions studied in DFT calculations. The choice of the counter ion affects the surface chemistry and molecular structure at the organic/water interface, which is relevant for biological applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland. hannu.hakkinen@jyu.fi.
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salorinne
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lahtinen
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malola
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koivisto
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Häkkinen