Unusual multi-step sequential Au(III)/Au(II) processes of gold(III) quinoxalinoporphyrins in acidic non-aqueous media

The electrochemistry of gold(III) mono- and bis-quinoxalinoporphyrins was examined in CH(2)Cl(2) or PhCN containing 0.1 M tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) before and after the addition of trifluoroacetic acid to solution. The investigated porphyrins are represented as Au(PQ)PF(6) and Au(QPQ)PF(6), where P is the dianion of the 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin and Q is a quinoxaline group fused to a β,β'-pyrrolic position of the porphyrin macrocycle; in Au(QPQ)PF(6) there is a linear arrangement where the quinoxalines are fused to pyrrolic positions that are opposite each other. The porphyrin without the fused quinoxaline groups, Au(P)PF(6), was also investigated under the same solution conditions. In the absence of acid, all three gold(III) porphyrins undergo a single reversible Au(III)/Au(II) process leading to the formation of a Au(II) porphyrin which can be further reduced at more negative potentials to give stepwise the Au(II) porphyrin π-anion radical and dianion, respectively. However, in the presence of acid, the initial Au(III)/Au(II) processes of Au(PQ)PF(6) and Au(QPQ)PF(6) are followed by an internal electron transfer and protonation to regenerate new Au(III) porphyrins assigned as Au(III)(PQH)(+) and Au(III)(QPQH)(+). Both protonated gold(III) quinoxalinoporphyrins then undergo a second Au(III)/Au(II) process at more negative potentials. The electrogenerated monoprotonated monoquinoxalinoporphyrin, Au(II)(PQH), is then further reduced to its π-anion radical and dianion forms, but this is not the case for the monoprotonated bis-quinoxalinoporphyrin, Au(II)(QPQH), which accepts a second proton and is rapidly converted to Au(III)(HQPQH)(+) before undergoing a third Au(III)/Au(II) process to produce Au(II)(HQPQH) as a final product. Thus, Au(P)PF(6) undergoes one metal-centered reduction while Au(PQ)PF(6) and Au(QPQ)PF(6) exhibit two and three Au(III)/Au(II) processes, respectively. These unusual multistep sequential Au(III)/Au(II) processes were monitored by thin-layer spectroelectrochemistry and a reduction/oxidation mechanism for Au(PQ)PF(6) and Au(QPQ)PF(6) in acidic media is proposed.     

Structural, electronic, optical, and chiroptical properties of small thiolated gold clusters: the case of Au6 and Au8 cores protected with dimer [Au2(SR)3] and trimer [Au3(SR)4)] motifs

We report results of a theoretical study, based on density functional theory (DFT), on the structural, electronic, optical, and chiroptical properties of small thiolated gold clusters, [Au(n)(SR)(m) (n = 12-15, 16-20; m = 9-12, 12-16)]. Some of these clusters correspond to those recently synthesized with the surfactant-free method. To study the cluster physical properties, we consider two cluster families with Au(6) and Au(8) cores, respectively, covered with dimer [Au(2)(SR)(3)] and trimer [Au(3)(SR)(4)] (CH(3) being the R group) motifs or their combinations. Our DFT calculations show, by comparing the relaxed structures of the [Au(6)[Au(2)(SR)(3)](3)](+), [Au(6)[Au(2)(SR)(3)](2)[Au(3)(SR)(4)]](+), [Au(6)[Au(2)(SR)(3)][Au(3)(SR)(4)](2)](+), and [Au(6)[Au(3)(SR)(4)](3)](+) cationic clusters, that there is an increasing distortion in the Au(6) core as each dimer is replaced by a longer trimer motif. For the clusters in the second family, Au(8)[Au(3)(SR)(4)](4), Au(8)[Au(2)(SR)(3)][Au(3)(SR)(4)](3), Au(8)[Au(2)(SR)(3)](2)[Au(3)(SR)(4)](2), Au(8)[Au(2)(SR)(3)](3)[Au(3)(SR)(4)], and Au(8)[Au(2)(SR)(3)](4), a smaller distortion of the Au(8) core is observed as dimer motifs are substituted by trimer ones. An interesting trend emerging from the present calculations shows that as the number of trimer motifs increases in the protecting layer of both Au(6) and Au(8) cores, the average of the interatomic Au(core)-S distances reduces. This shrinkage in the Au(core)-S distances is correlated with an increase of the cluster HOMO-LUMO (H-L) gap. From these results, it is predicted that a larger number of trimer motifs in the cluster protecting layer would induce larger H-L gaps. By analyzing the electronic transitions that characterize the optical absorption and circular dichroism spectra of the clusters under study, it is observed that the molecular orbitals involved are composed of comparable proportions of orbitals corresponding to atoms forming the cluster core and the protecting dimer and trimer motifs.     

金纳米颗粒在不同包裹介质中的超快等离子体动力学

Herein, we prepared four samples, namely gold/poly(sodium-p-styrenesulfonate) (Au/PSS), gold/silicon dioxide (Au/SiO₂), gold/titanium dioxide (Au/TiO₂), and gold/cuprous oxide (Au/Cu₂O) core/shell nanocomposites, to investigate how the surrounding medium affects the ultrafast plasmon dynamics of Au nanoparticles (NPs). We recorded femtosecond transient absorption spectra of Au NPs in Au/PSS, Au/SiO₂, Au/TiO₂, and Au/Cu₂O core/shell nanocomposites at various time delays. We found that the spectral features in the femtosecond transient absorption spectra of Au NPs in Au/TiO₂ and Au/Cu₂O core/shell nanocomposites were dramatically different from those of Au NPs in Au/PSS and Au/SiO₂ core/shell nanocomposites. A comprehensive analysis of the ultrafast plasmon dynamics of Au NPs in the core/shell nanocomposites revealed that following excitation of the resonance plasmon band of Au NPs, the exited electrons could be efficiently transferred into the conduction bands of TiO₂ and Cu₂O in Au/TiO₂ and Au/Cu₂O core/shell nanocomposites.     

Glutathione-protected gold clusters revisited: bridging the gap between gold(I)-thiolate complexes and thiolate-protected gold nanocrystals

Small gold clusters (approximately 1 nm) protected by molecules of a tripeptide, glutathione (GSH), were prepared by reductive decomposition of Au(I)-SG polymers at a low temperature and separated into a number of fractions by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Chemical compositions of the fractionated clusters determined previously by electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry (Negishi, Y. et al. J.Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 6518) were reassessed by taking advantage of freshly prepared samples, higher mass resolution, and more accurate mass calibration; the nine smallest components are reassigned to Au10(SG)10, Au15(SG)13, Au18(SG)14, Au22(SG)16, Au22(SG)17, Au25(SG)18, Au29(SG)20, Au33(SG)22, and Au39(SG)24. These assignments were further confirmed by measuring the mass spectra of the isolated Au:S(h-G) clusters, where h-GSH is a homoglutathione. It is proposed that a series of the isolated Au:SG clusters corresponds to kinetically trapped intermediates of the growing Au cores. The relative abundance of the isolated clusters was correlated well with the thermodynamic stabilities against unimolecular decomposition. The electronic structures of the isolated Au:SG clusters were probed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and optical spectroscopy. The Au(4f) XPS spectra illustrate substantial electron donation from the gold cores to the GS ligands in the Au:SG clusters. The optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra indicate that the electronic structures of the Au:SG clusters are well quantized; embryos of the sp band of the bulk gold evolve remarkably depending on the number of the gold atoms and GS ligands. The comparison of these spectral data with those of sodium Au(I) thiomalate and 1.8 nm Au:SG nanocrystals (NCs) reveals that the subnanometer-sized Au clusters thiolated constitute a distinct class of binary system which lies between the Au(I)-thiolate complexes and thiolate-protected Au NCs.     

SnO2负载Au和M-Au(M=Pt,Pd)催化剂及其低温催化氧化CO性能

以SnO₂为载体, 采用沉积沉淀法(DP)、共沉淀法(CP)和浸渍法(IM)制备了金负载Au/SnO₂催化剂, 同时采用沉积沉淀法制备了M-Au/SnO₂(M=Pd, Pt)双金属负载催化剂. 通过X射线衍射(XRD)、BET比表面积测定、透射电镜(TEM)和X射线光电子能谱(XPS)等技术对样品进行表征, 并测定其对CO的催化活性. 结果表明: 与CP法和IM 法相比, DP法制备的Au/SnO₂-DP 催化剂, Au 颗粒(<5 nm)较小, 分布均匀; Au/SnO₂-DP 中的Au 是以金属态Au0存在, 而Au/SnO₂-CP 和Au/SnO₂-IM 中, 金以Au⁰和Au³⁺的混合价态存在, 在Au/SnO₂-DP和M-Au/SnO₂中的Au、Pt、Pd和SnO₂之间存在相互作用; Au/SnO₂-DP 催化性能明显优于Au/SnO₂-CP 和Au/SnO₂-IM. Au与Pt 和Pd的双金属复合催化剂催化活性明显提高. 不同方法制备Au/SnO₂催化活性的差别主要是由于Au颗粒大小和Au氧化态的不同而产生. 而M-Au/SnO₂活性提高, 可能是由于Au与Pt 和Pd之间的相互作用.     

Synthesis and electrocatalytic activity of Au/Pt bimetallic nanodendrites for ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium

Gold/Platinum (Au/Pt) bimetallic nanodendrites were successfully synthesized through seeded growth method using preformed Au nanodendrites as seeds and ascorbic acid as reductant. Cyclic voltammograms (CVs) of a series of Au/Pt nanodendrites modified electrodes in 1M KOH solution containing 1M ethanol showed that the electrocatalyst with a molar ratio (Au:Pt) of 3 exhibited the highest peak current density and the lowest onset potential. The peak current density of ethanol electro-oxidation on the Au(3)Pt(1) nanodendrites modified glassy carbon electrode (Au(3)Pt(1) electrode) is about 16, 12.5, and 4.5 times higher than those on the polycrystalline Pt electrode, polycrystalline Au electrode, and Au nanodendrites modified glassy carbon electrode (Au dendrites electrode), respectively. The oxidation peak potential of ethanol electro-oxidation on the Au(3)Pt(1) electrode is about 299 and 276 mV lower than those on the polycrystalline Au electrode and Au dendrites electrode, respectively. These results demonstrated that the Au/Pt bimetallic nanodendrites may find potential application in alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells (ADEFCs).     

Comportement électrochimique des faces vicinales de Au(111) ; surfaces à marches {111}

Electrochemical behaviour of the Au(111) vicinal faces; {111} stepped surfaces. The Au(332) and Au(776) facets forming on Au(554) and Au(775) faceted vicinal faces have different electrochemical behaviours. The electrochemical study in NaF solutions of the Au(776) face reveals that the whole of the {111} steps of an Au(776) surface have the same electrochemical behaviour as the Au(332) face. On the other hand, the (111) terraces of Au(776) behave differently from the large (111) terraces of an Au(111) single-crystal electrode. The atomic reconstruction of the (111) terraces of the Au(776) facets, observed by vacuum STM, completely disappears in contact with the solution, whereas the reconstruction of the wide (111) terraces of a Au(111) single-crystal does not disappear completely. Measurements of the differential capacity C(E) also showed that faceted or non-faceted surfaces of Au(554) and Au(775) faces had the same electrochemical behaviour. This implies that non-faceted surfaces consist of Au(332) and Au(111)(1 × 1) domains that have independent electrochemical behaviours.     

Mechanism of trivalent gold reduction and reactivity of transient divalent and monovalent gold ions studied by gamma and pulse radiolysis

The detailed kinetics of the multistep mechanism of the Au(III) ion reduction into gold clusters have been investigated by radiation chemistry methods in 2-propanol. In particular, a discussion on the steady state radiolysis dose-dependence of the yields concludes to a comproportionation reaction of nascent gold atoms Au(0) with excess Au(III) ions into Au(II) and Au(I). This reaction should be achieved through Au(III) consumption before the coalescence of atoms Au(0) into gold clusters may occur. Then gold clusters catalyze the reduction of Au(I) by 2-propanol. It was also found that a long-lived Au(II) dimer, (Au(II))(2), was transiently formed according to the quantitative analysis of time-resolved absorbance signals obtained by pulse radiolysis. Then the disproportionation of Au(II) is intramolecular in the dimer instead of intermolecular, as usually reported. The yields, reaction rate constants, time-resolved spectra, and molar extinction coefficients are reported for the successive one-electron reduction steps, involving especially the transient species, such as Au(II), (Au(II))(2), and Au(I). The processes are discussed in comparison with other solvents and other metal ions.     

New structural motifs in the aggregation of neutral gold(I) complexes: structures and luminescence from (alkyl isocyanide)AuCN

The preparation and X-ray crystal structures of (CyNC)Au(I)CN, (n-BuNC)Au(I)CN, and (i-PrNC)Au(I)CN.0.5CH(2)Cl(2) are reported and compared with those of (MeNC)Au(I)CN and (t-BuNC)Au(I)CN, which were previously described. These linear molecules are all organized through aurophilic interactions into three structural classes: simple chains ((CyNC)Au(I)CN and (t-BuNC)Au(I)CN), side-by-side chains in which two strands make Au...Au contact with each other ((n-BuNC)Au(I)CN), and nets in which multiple aurophilic interactions produce layers of gold(I) centers ((i-PrNC)Au(I)CN and (MeNC)Au(I)CN). All of these five solids dissolve to produce colorless, nonluminescent solutions with similar UV/vis spectra. However, each of the solids displays a unique luminescence with emission maxima occurring in the range 371-430 nm.     

Structures and relative stability of neutral gold clusters: Aun (n=15-19)

We performed a global-minimum search for low-lying neutral clusters (Au(n)) in the size range of n=15-19 by means of basin-hopping method coupled with density functional theory calculation. Leading candidates for the lowest-energy clusters are identified, including four for Au(15), two for Au(16), three for Au(17), five for Au(18), and one for Au(19). For Au(15) and Au(16) we find that the shell-like flat-cage structures dominate the population of low-lying clusters, while for Au(17) and Au(18) spherical-like hollow-cage structures dominate the low-lying population. The transition from flat-cage to hollow-cage structure is at Au(17) for neutral gold clusters, in contrast to the anion counterparts for which the structural transition is at Au(16) (-) [S. Bulusu et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 103, 8362 (2006)]. Moreover, the structural transition from hollow-cage to pyramidal structure occurs at Au(19). The lowest-energy hollow-cage structure of Au(17) (with C(2v) point-group symmetry) shows distinct stability, either in neutral or in anionic form. The distinct stability of the hollow-cage Au(17) calls for the possibility of synthesizing highly stable core/shell bimetallic clusters M@Au(17) (M=group I metal elements).     

First-principles study of interaction of cluster Au32 with CO, H2, and O2

First-principles calculations are performed to study the interaction of cluster Au(32) with small molecules, such as CO, H(2), and O(2). The cagelike Au(32)(I(h)) shows a higher chemical inertness than the amorphous Au(32)(C(1)) with respect to the interaction with small molecules CO, H(2), and O(2). H(2) can only be physically adsorbed on Au(32)(I(h)), while it can be dissociatively chemisorbed on Au(32)(C(1)). Although CO can be chemically adsorbed on Au(32)(I(h)) and Au(32)(C(1)) with one electron transferred from Au(32) to the antibonding pi* orbit of CO, it is bound more strongly on Au(32)(C(1)) than on Au(32)(I(h)). Spin polarized and spin nonpolarized calculations result almost identical ground state structures of Au(32)(I(h))-O(2) and Au(32)(C(1))-O(2), in which O(2) is dissociatively chemisorbed.     

Au单晶表面氟表面活性剂FSN自组装膜的电化学行为

研究Au(111)和Au(100)表面非离子型氟表面活性剂FSN自组装膜的电化学行为.电化学扫描隧道显微术和循环伏安法测试表明,在0～0.8 V电位区间,FSN自组装膜未发生氧化还原,均一性好,可稳定地存在于电极表面,并显著抑制硫酸根离子在电极表面的吸附和Au单晶表面的重构.在FSN自组装膜Au单晶电极的初始氧化阶段,Au(111)表面有少量突起,而Au(100)表面呈现台阶剧烈变化,但FSN自组装膜的吸附结构没有改变.与Au(100)表面相比,Au(111)表面形成的FSN自组装膜可更有效地抑制Au表面的氧化.     

Quick XAFS studies on the Y-type zeolite supported Au catalysts for CO-O2 reaction

Au/zeolite catalysts prepared with a deposition-precipitation method were characterized with quick XAFS (QXAFS) in combination with IR. The data were correlated with the catalytic performance in the CO-O(2) reaction conducted at 273 K. On the basis of the XANES analysis of Au loaded on H-Y, the deposited Au(2)O(3) was observed at the initial stage. The transformation of Au(2)O(3) to form metal Au clusters was observed at 473 K in a H(2) atmosphere. The fact was supported by the IR measurement of adsorbed CO and the subsequent reaction with O(2). Detailed clustering process of Au supported catalysts could be directly followed by EXAFS analysis. The growth of metal Au proceeded via the formation of a Au(55) cluster at 473 K. Then it agglomerated to give metal Au with diameter of 2 nm at 723 K. The addition of H(2) was effective to retard the sintering of Au clusters. A similar phenomenon was observed over Au loaded on USY zeolite. In marked contrast to the H-Y and USY supports, significantly agglomerated Au particles generated on Na-Y zeolite, indicating the importance of the presence of acid sites in keeping the Au clusters with highly dispersed form. The performance of 5 wt % Au loaded on H-Y and USY in the CO-O(2) reaction was remarkably sensitive to the pretreatment temperature and the gas atmosphere. The catalyst pretreated with hydrogen showed a two-spike pattern with respect to the pretreatment temperature. Namely, the optimum activity was observed after the pretreatment at 373 and 723 K, where the temperatures corresponded to the generation of Au(2)O(3) and metal Au clusters with 2 nm diameter as evidenced by QXAFS analysis, respectively. The reason for enhancement of the activity of Au/H-Y by the addition of H(2) in the pretreatment step could be attributed to the formation of metal Au with appropriate size. In contrast to the H-Y and USY support, Au loaded on Na-Y prepared under the same condition was almost inactive in the reaction due to the formation of aggregated metal Au.     

“三明治式”多层Au/Pt复合薄膜的制备及其对甲醇的电氧化

采用界面组装、欠电位沉积和氧化还原置换反应组合方法制备了单层Pt/Au复合薄膜, 并且不需要任何有机偶联剂; 组装单层Pt/Au复合薄膜为三类多层Pt/Au复合薄膜: (Pt/Au)_n、Pt_m/Au和(Pt₃/Au)_k (n、m和k分别为Pt/Au、Pt和Pt₃/Au的层数). 采用电子显微镜研究了Au纳米粒子单层膜和Pt/Au复合多层膜的形貌. 对于所有的多层膜电极而言, 其电化学活性面积随着层数的增加而增加. 通过研究甲醇在每一类Pt/Au复合薄膜上的氧化电流密度, 考察了其对甲醇的电催化和抗毒化性能. 对于同一类复合薄膜而言, 甲醇分别在(Pt/Au)₃、Pt₃/Au和(Pt₃/Au)₂电极上均具有最大的氧化电流密度, 且优于本体Pt电极. 在这三种电极中, (Pt/Au)₃电极无论从电流密度上还是从抗毒化能力上讲, 其性能是最好的, 而且其抗毒化能力也优于商业Pt/C催化剂. 这种良好的催化性能源于Au和Pt之间最大化的协同效应, 这取决于Pt和Au原子比率以及Pt纳米层和Au纳米层之间的排布方式.     

[μ‐o‐Phenylenebis(diphenylphosphine)‐κ2P:P′]bis[chlorogold(I)], dppbz(AuCl)2

The Au⃛Au distance in the title compound, [Au₂Cl₂(C₃₀H₂₄P₂)], is 2.996 (1) Å, typical of an Au⃛Au interaction. The two P—Au—Cl arms `cross' at the Au centers, with a Cl—Au⃛Au—Cl torsion angle of −63.92 (7)°. Only a small deviation from linearity is observed in the coordination around the Au atoms. Related phosphine–gold(I) chloride structures with intra‐ and intermolecular Au⃛Au interactions are surveyed.     

Dissolved organic matter-mediated reduction of ionic Au(III) to elemental Au nanoparticles and their growth to visible granules

The biogeochemical transformation of gold (Au), i.e. its dissolution and re-precipitation, is critical in supergene transport of Au and formation of Au granules. Besides biogenic reduction, the formation Au granules can also be driven by chemical processes. Previous studies have showed the formation of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) from ionic Au(III) can be mediated by dissolved organic matter under sunlight. In this letter, we further demonstrated that these AuNPs can further slowly (in years) grow into visible Au granules. Different sized nano-flower and fractal dendrite-like branched gold structures (from tens of nanometres to over 100 μm) were observed in the Au granule sample. This growth of AuNPs into visible Au granules may play a critical role in the supergene mineralization and enrichment of secondary Au and drive the biogeochemical cycle of Au.     

A key to the storage stability of Au/TiO(2) catalyst

The effect of Au(3+) percentage in Au/TiO(2) on its storage stability at room temperature was studied by varying the drying temperature and storage duration of a deposition-precipitation prepared Au/TiO(2) sample. Carefully-designed room temperature storage in a desiccator, in the dark to exclude any interference of light irradiation, was referenced to the freezing storage (255 K) in a refrigerator. The samples were characterized by well-calibrated H(2)-TPR, TEM and TG measurements. Reduction of Au(3+) ions and agglomeration of metallic Au particles were shown to be the main reasons for the deterioration of Au/TiO(2) during desiccator-storage. Correlating the percentage of Au(3+) ions, determined by H(2)-TPR, with the storage stability of Au/TiO(2) for CO oxidation at 273 K revealed that Au/TiO(2) samples with higher Au(3+) percentages (>90%) were much more stable during the desiccator-storage than those with higher percentages of metallic Au. Residual water in fresh Au/TiO(2) before storage showed a promotional effect on gold reduction and agglomeration during storage. By maximizing the percentage of Au(3+) ions and minimizing the residual water in the fresh sample, the deterioration of the Au/TiO(2) catalyst was successfully avoided during desiccator-storage of up to 150 days in dark. A possible mechanism of Au/TiO(2) deterioration during the desiccator-storage was also discussed.     

Orange luminescence and structural properties of three isostructural halocyclohexylisonitrilegold(I) complexes

The preparation of three isonitrile complexes (CyNC)Au(I)Cl, (CyNC)Au(I)Br, and (CyNC)Au(I)I, along with their structural and spectral characterization, are reported. X-ray crystal structures reveal that these crystallize in the same space group and have closely related structures. The structures involve pleated chains of linear, two-coordinate monomers that are arranged in a head-tail fashion. However, these chains vary significantly in the degree of aurophilic interactions among the individual molecules. Thus, (CyNC)Au(I)Cl forms infinite chains with alternating Au...Au distances of 3.3894(7) and 3.5816(7) A. Within the chains of (CyNC)Au(I)Br, however, the alternation of Au.Au distances is more pronounced so that there are dimers, with an Au.Au distance of 3.4864(9) A, and neighboring gold centers at 3.7036(9) A. In (CyNC)Au(I)I, the gold-gold contacts do not lie within the range of significant aurophilic bonding. The closest Au...Au distance is 3.7182(11) A while every other Au...Au distance is 3.9304(12) A. The steric factor of the X ligand and dipole-dipole interactions between the antiparallel complexes is much more significant than aurophilic interactions in governing the self-association of the complexes in this series. The colorless crystals of each solid display an orange luminescence band with a strikingly large Stokes' shift ( approximately 21000 cm(-)(1), 2.6 eV). However, considerable care had to be taken to ensure that the crystals used for the study of the luminescence were free of a surface impurity that produced a turquoise-green luminescence in (CyNC)Au(I)Cl. The diffuse reflectance spectra for the solids show a similar three-band pattern in the 200-330 nm range.     

Mechanism of gold adsorption by persimmon tannin gel.

Gold adsorption by persimmon tannin (PT) gel from a solution containing hydrogen tetrachloroaurate(III) was examined. A flow-rate examination in a column system indicated the reduction of Au(III) ion to Au(0). XRD patterns clarified the existence of Au(0) on the gel which adsorbed gold. The gel could also adsorb colloidal Au(0) prepared independently. A model consisting of ligand exchange, Au(III) reduction to Au(0), and resulting Au(0) adsorption by PT gel was presented for the gold adsorption mechanism.     

Coprecipitation of gold(III) complex ions with manganese(II) hydroxide and their stoichiometric reduction to atomic gold (Au(0)): analysis by Mössbauer spectroscopy and XPS

To elucidate the formation process of precursor of gold-supported manganese dioxide (MnO2), the coprecipitation behavior of [AuCl4-n(OH)n](-) (n=0-4) (Au(III)) complex ions with manganese(II) hydroxide (Mn(OH)2 and the change in their chemical state were examined. The Au(III) complex ions were rapidly and effectively coprecipitated with Mn(OH)(2) at pH 9. According to the M?ssbauer spectra for gold (Au) coprecipitated with Mn(OH)2, below an Au content of 60 wt% in the coprecipitates, all of the coprecipitated Au existed in the atomic state (Au(0)), while, above an Au content of 65 wt%, part of the gold existed in the Au(III) state, and the proportion increased with increasing coprecipitated Au content. Based on the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Mn(II) in Mn(OH)2 converted to Mn(IV) in conjunction with coprecipitation of Au(III) complex ions. These results indicate that the rapid stoichiometric reduction of Au(III) to Au(0) is caused by electron transfer from Mn(II) in Mn(OH)2 to the Au(III) complex ion through an Mn-O-Au bond.