Probing the structural evolution of medium-sized gold clusters: Au n- (n = 27-35)

Nan Shao, Wei Huang, Yi Gao, Lei Ming Wang, Xi Li, Lai Sheng Wang, Xiao Cheng Zeng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

117 Scopus citations

Abstract

The structural evolution of negatively charged gold clusters (Au n-) in the medium size range for n = 27-35 has been investigated using photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and theoretical calculations. New PES data are obtained using Ar-seeded He supersonic beams to achieve better cluster cooling, resulting in well-resolved spectra and revealing the presence of low-lying isomers in a number of systems. Density-functional theory calculations are used for global minimum searches. For each cluster anion, more than 200 low-lying isomers are generated using the basin-hopping global minimum search algorithm. The most viable structures and low-lying isomers are obtained using both the relative energies and comparisons between the simulated spectra and experimental PES data. The global minimum structures of Aun- (n = 27, 28, 30, and 32-35) are found to exhibit low-symmetry core-shell structures with the number of core atoms increasing with cluster size: Au27-, Au28-, and Au30- possess a one-atom core; Au32- features a three-atom triangular core; and Au33- to Au35- all contain a four-atom tetrahedral core. The global searches reveal that the tetrahedral core is a popular motif for low-lying structures of Au33- to Au35-. The structural information forms the basis for future chemisorption studies to unravel the catalytic effects of gold nanoparticles.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6596-6605
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume132
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - May 12 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • Chemistry(all)
  • Biochemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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