title: Neat and complete: thiolate-ligand exchange on a silver molecular nanoparticle.
abstract: Atomically precise thiolate-protected noble metal molecular nanoparticles are a promising class of model nanomaterials for catalysis, optoelectronics, and the bottom-up assembly of true molecular crystals. However, these applications have not fully materialized due to a lack of ligand exchange strategies that add functionality, but preserve the properties of these remarkable particles. Here we present a method for the rapid (<30 s) and complete thiolate-for-thiolate exchange of the highly sought after silver molecular nanoparticle [Ag44(SR)30](-4). Only by using this method were we able to preserve the precise nature of the particles and simultaneously replace the native ligands with ligands containing a variety of functional groups. Crucially, as a result of our method we were able to process the particles into smooth thin films, paving the way for their integration into solution-processed devices.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Solar and Photovoltaics Engineering Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Lina G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: AbdulHalim
authors.forename: Nuwan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kothalawala
authors.forename: Lutfan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sinatra
authors.forename: Amala
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dass
authors.forename: Osman M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Bakr