title: Au₂₄(SAdm)₁₆ nanomolecules: X-ray crystal structure, theoretical analysis, adaptability of adamantane ligands to form Au₂₃(SAdm)₁₆ and Au₂₅(SAdm)₁₆, and its relation to Au₂₅(SR)₁₈.
abstract: Here we present the crystal structure, experimental and theoretical characterization of a Au24(SAdm)16 nanomolecule. The composition was verified by X-ray crystallography and mass spectrometry, and its optical and electronic properties were investigated via experiments and first-principles calculations. Most importantly, the focus of this work is to demonstrate how the use of bulky thiolate ligands, such as adamantanethiol, versus the commonly studied phenylethanethiolate ligands leads to a great structural flexibility, where the metal core changes its shape from five-fold to crystalline-like motifs and can adapt to the formation of Au(24±1)(SAdm)16, namely, Au23(SAdm)16, Au24(SAdm)16, and Au25(SAdm)16. The basis for the construction of a thermodynamic phase diagram of Au nanomolecules in terms of ligands and solvent features is also outlined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Mississippi , Oxford, Mississippi 38677, United States.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crasto
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barcaro
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stener
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sementa
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fortunelli
authors.forename: Amala
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dass