Chemically Synthesized ~1 nm Multilevel Capacitor-like Particle with Atomic Precision

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2024-12, p.e202420931
• Main Authors: Zhou, Yue, Chen, Dong, Gu, Wanmiao, Fan, Wentao, Wang, Runguo, Fang, Liang, You, Qing, Zhuang, Shengli, Bian, Guoqing, Liao, Lingwen, Zhou, Ziyan, Xia, Nan, Yang, Jun, Wu, Zhikun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1521-3773; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202420931

Can the chemically synthesized nanoparticles act as nanodevices or nanomachines? Herein, we demonstrated its feasibility. A novel nanocluster (ultrasmall nanoparticles) [Au44Cd20(m-MBT)40][N(C8H17)4]2 (Au44Cd20 in short, m-MBTH: m-methylbenzenethiol) obtained via developing a synthesis method have a cannula-like structure of the outer shell and an internal sleeve, revealed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Natural population analysis (NPA) charge calculations, charge carrier transport of Au44Cd20 (during which an intra-nanocluster anti-galvanic reaction was observed) after unneutral charging using NaBH4 and voltammetry proved the capacitor-like character of Au44Cd20. The subsidiary capacitor-like character of the outer shell of Au44Cd20 was further probed via NPA charge calculations and electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO. Thus, this study predicts a new era of engineering metal nanoparticles for realizing atomically precise ultrasmall nanodevices and nanomachines.Can the chemically synthesized nanoparticles act as nanodevices or nanomachines? Herein, we demonstrated its feasibility. A novel nanocluster (ultrasmall nanoparticles) [Au44Cd20(m-MBT)40][N(C8H17)4]2 (Au44Cd20 in short, m-MBTH: m-methylbenzenethiol) obtained via developing a synthesis method have a cannula-like structure of the outer shell and an internal sleeve, revealed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Natural population analysis (NPA) charge calculations, charge carrier transport of Au44Cd20 (during which an intra-nanocluster anti-galvanic reaction was observed) after unneutral charging using NaBH4 and voltammetry proved the capacitor-like character of Au44Cd20. The subsidiary capacitor-like character of the outer shell of Au44Cd20 was further probed via NPA charge calculations and electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO. Thus, this study predicts a new era of engineering metal nanoparticles for realizing atomically precise ultrasmall nanodevices and nanomachines.