Atomically resolved Au52Cu72(SR)55 nanoalloy reveals Marks decahedron truncation and Penrose tiling surface

Gold-copper alloys have rich forms. Here we report an atomically resolved [Au 52 Cu 72 ( p -MBT) 55 ] + Cl − nanoalloy ( p -MBT = SPh- p -CH 3 ). This nanoalloy exhibits unusual structural patterns. First, two Cu atoms are located in the inner 7-atom decahedral kernel (M 7 , M = Au/Cu). The M 7 kern...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature communications 2020-01, Vol.11 (1), p.478-478, Article 478
Main Authors: Song, Yongbo, Li, Yingwei, Li, Hao, Ke, Feng, Xiang, Ji, Zhou, Chuanjun, Li, Peng, Zhu, Manzhou, Jin, Rongchao
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
140/58
639/925/357/354
Atomic properties
Cages
Copper
Gold
Gold base alloys
Humanities and Social Sciences
Kernels
multidisciplinary
Nanoalloys
Nanoparticles
Quasicrystalline structure
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Symmetry
Tiling
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Summary:Gold-copper alloys have rich forms. Here we report an atomically resolved [Au 52 Cu 72 ( p -MBT) 55 ] + Cl − nanoalloy ( p -MBT = SPh- p -CH 3 ). This nanoalloy exhibits unusual structural patterns. First, two Cu atoms are located in the inner 7-atom decahedral kernel (M 7 , M = Au/Cu). The M 7 kernel is then enclosed by a second shell of homogold (Au 47 ), giving rise to a two-shelled M 54 (i.e. Au 52 Cu 2 ) full decahedron. A comparison of the non-truncated M 54 decahedron with the truncated homogold Au 49 kernel in similar-sized gold nanoparticles provides for the first time an explanation for Marks decahedron truncation. Second, a Cu 70 (SR) 55 exterior cage resembling a 3D Penrose tiling protects the M 54 decahedral kernel. Compared to the discrete staple motifs in gold:thiolate nanoparticles, the Cu-thiolate surface of Au 52 Cu 72 forms an extended cage. The Cu-SR Penrose tiling retains the M 54 kernel’s high symmetry ( D 5h ). Third, interparticle interactions in the assembly are closely related to the symmetry of the particle, and a “quadruple-gear-like” interlocking pattern is observed. The formation of Marks truncated decahedra in nanoparticles is ubiquitous but the mechanism has not been fully understood. Here, the authors provide atomic-level insights by creating a non-truncated Au 52 Cu 72 (SR) 55 decahedral nanocluster and comparing it with the truncated homogold decahedra.
ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-020-14400-2