Famous gold cluster structure revisited

Graphical abstract: A 58-electron superatom-complex model for the magic phosphine-protected gold clusters (Schmid-gold, Nanogold®) of 1.4-nm dimensionTeams from Germany, the US and Finland have re-investigated the structure of a famous gold-phosphine-halide compound.

The ‘‘Schmid Au55’’ cluster, originally formulated as Au55(PPh3)12Cl6, is one of the first and probably most utilised gold nanoparticles. However, the team found that the most energetically favourable anion is
[Au69(PR3)20Cl12]-1. It is energetically and chemically superior to the standard models based on Au55(PR3)12X6.

Download the Chemical Science Edge article to find out more.

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