Insights into the structures,stabilities, electronic and magnetic properties of X2Aun (X = La,Y, and Sc; n = 1–9) clusters: comparison with pure gold clusters

A systematic study of the X₂Au_n (X = La, Y, Sc; n = 1–9) clusters are performed by using the density functional theory at TPSS level. The structures, stabilities, electronic, and magnetic properties are investigated in comparison with pure gold clusters. The results show that the transition points of the doped clusters from two-dimensional to three-dimensional structure are obviously earlier than gold clusters. The impurity X atoms tend to occupy the most highly coordinated position and form the largest probable number of bonds with gold atoms. In addition, the impurity atoms can strongly enhance the stabilities of gold clusters. It indicates that the impurity atoms dramatically affect the geometries and stabilities of the Au_n clusters. The highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest occupied molecular orbital gap, vertical ionisation potential, and chemical hardness show that the X₂Au₆ clusters have higher stabilities than the others. In La₂Au_1–9, Y₂Au_1–7, and Sc₂Au_1–4 clusters, the charges transfer from X atoms to the Au_n frames. The total magnetic moments of X₂Au_n clusters exist distinctly odd–even alternation behaviours except for La₂Au₄ and Sc₂Au₄ clusters.     

Ion synthesis and optical properties of gold nanoparticles in an Al2O3 matrix

Single-crystal Al₂O₃(0001) and Al₂O₃(1120) substrates are implanted by 160-keV Au⁺ ions with doses from 10¹⁵ to 10¹⁷ cm^?2. Some of the implanted samples are air-annealed at 800–1200°C. The properties of the synthesized composite layers are studied by Rutherford backscattering and linear optical reflection measurements, and their nonlinear optical characteristics are examined by RZ-scanning using a picosecond Nd: YAG laser operating at a wavelength of 1064 nm. The Rutherford backscattering spectra indicate that the implanted impurity concentrates near the surface of the Al₂O₃. The formation of gold nanoparticles in the Al₂O₃ can be judged from the characteristic optical plasmon resonance band in the reflectance spectra of the samples irradiated to a dose higher than 6.0 × 10¹⁶ cm^?2. The synthesized particles are shown to be responsible for nonlinear optical refraction in the samples. The nonlinear refractive index, n ₂, and the real part of the third-order susceptibility, Rex⁽³⁾, of the composite layers are determined.     

A novel method for the synthesis of monodisperse gold-coated silica nanoparticles

Monodisperse silica nanoparticles were synthesised by the well-known Stober protocol, then dispersed in acetonitrile (ACN) and subsequently added to a bisacetonitrile gold(I) coordination complex ([Au(MeCN)₂]⁺) in ACN. The silica hydroxyl groups were deprotonated in the presence of ACN, generating a formal negative charge on the siloxy groups. This allowed the [Au(MeCN)₂]⁺ complex to undergo ligand exchange with the silica nanoparticles and form a surface coordination complex with reduction to metallic gold (Au⁰) proceeding by an inner sphere mechanism. The residual [Au(MeCN)₂]⁺ complex was allowed to react with water, disproportionating into Au⁰ and Au(III), respectively, with the Au⁰ adding to the reduced gold already bound on the silica surface. The so-formed metallic gold seed surface was found to be suitable for the conventional reduction of Au(III) to Au⁰ by ascorbic acid (ASC). This process generated a thin and uniform gold coating on the silica nanoparticles. The silica NPs batches synthesised were in a size range from 45 to 460 nm. Of these silica NP batches, the size range from 400 to 480 nm were used for the gold-coating experiments.     

Edge emissions of ion-implanted CdS

Edge emissions of CdS crystals implanted with Li⁺, N⁺, Ne⁺ and P⁺ are studied. Li and P are found to form acceptors and give rise to I₁ lines in the blue and donor-acceptor pair recombination emissions in the green. N gives rise to two kinds of I₂ lines (excitons bound to neutral donors) and donor-acceptor pair recombination emissions. An acceptor due to a defect is found in N⁺ and Ne⁺ implanted CdS. The temperature range of thermal treatment where impurity centers are formed is also investigated. The relationship among impurity centers produced by N⁺ implantation is, moreover, discussed based upon the results obtained here and previous works.     

Does gold cluster promote or scavenge radicals? A controversy at DFT

Anticancer character of gold cluster has been indicated through its free radical scavenging properties. This is in contrast to its free radical promoting ability suggested by other workers. Here, we address this controversy by probing the stabilizing effects of Au₃ cluster on RO^? vs its impacts on RO–H bond dissociation enthalpy, at B3LYP/ LACVP+* level (R═H, methyl, ethyl, n‐propyl, i‐propyl, n‐butyl, t‐butyl, and phenyl). In the presence of Au₃ cluster, bond dissociation enthalpy of O–H bond and the spin density at the RO^? oxygen are reduced dramatically. These are clear evidences for both the Au₃ facilitation of the RO–H bond breakage and its scavenging of RO^? radical. Since O–Au anchoring bond is responsible for the interaction of Au₃ cluster and ROH (or RO^?), its nature was interpreted by means of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules and the natural bond orbital. The results indicate that O–Au bond is stronger and has more covalent character in RO^?–Au₃ than in ROH–Au₃. The interaction of Au₃ cluster with RO^? is 1.5 to 3 times more than that with ROH. As a result, gold cluster scavenging property appears more prominent than its free radical initiation activity.     

Study on charge transfer interaction and valence state of layered perovskite-type mixed valence complex [NH3(CH2) n NH3]2[(AuII2)(AuIIII4)(I3)2] (n = 7, 8), by means of 197Au Mössbauer spectroscopy

Cs₂[Au^I X ₂][Au^III X ₄](X = Cl, Br, and I) is well known for the three-dimensional perovskite-type gold mixed valence system. Recently, layered perovskite-type gold mixed valence complexes, [NH₃(CH₂) _n NH₃]₂[(Au^II₂)(Au^IIII₄)(I₃)₂] (n = 7 and 8), have been synthesized. We have investigated the relationship between the structural dimensionality and the Au^I–Au^III charge transfer interaction for Cs₂[Au^II₂][Au^IIII₄] and [NH₃(CH₂) _n NH₃]₂[(Au^II₂)(Au^IIII₄)(I₃)₂] (n = 7 and 8) by means of ¹⁹⁷Au Mössbauer spectroscopy.     

Au/In bilayers studied with 111In deposited at the interface

Au/In bilayer samples of different stoichiometries were studied using the time-differential perturbed angular correlation technique. The ¹¹¹In probe atoms were deposited at the gold/indium interface to follow the formation of the intermetallic compounds at an early stage. Au-In phases of different composition (AuIn₂, AuIn, Au₇In₃, Au₃In) were created at the interfaces upon annealing. In addition a metastable Au₇In₃(m) phase, observed only after quenching in the bulk Au_0.7In_0.3 alloy, was found. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

197Au Mössbauer study of a gold-doped YBa2Cu3O7-σ high-temperature superconductor

A high temperature superconductor with the composition YBa₂Cu_2.9Au_0.1O_7– was studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy with the 77 keV gamma rays of¹⁹⁷Au, by X-ray diffraction, and by magnetization measurements. The main component in the Mössbauer spectrum, a quadrupole doublet with an isomer shift of +3.29 mm/s with respect to metallic gold and a quadrupole splitting of 3.61 mm/s, can be attributed to Au³⁺ in a square planar oxygen coordination, as is expected for gold replacing Cu(1). A further, weak doublet becomes dominant upon reduction of the specimen, and has an isomer shift of +3.46 mm/s and a quadrupole splitting of 7.12 mm/s. This component may be Au⁺ or Au³⁺ in an unusual coordination. Only a small fraction of the gold was found to be metallic in both the oxidized and the reduced state.     

Au5+ ion implantation induced structural phase transitions probed through structural,microstructural and phonon properties in BiFeO3 ceramics,using synergistic ion beam energy

Implanted Au⁵⁺-ion-induced modification in structural and phonon properties of phase pure BiFeO₃ (BFO) ceramics prepared by sol–gel method was investigated. These BFO samples were implanted by 15.8?MeV ions of Au⁵⁺ at various ion fluence ranging from 1?×?10¹⁴ to 5?×?10¹⁵?ions/cm². Effect of Au⁵⁺ ions’ implantation is explained in terms of structural phase transition coupled with amorphization/recrystallization due to ion implantation probed through XRD, SEM, EDX and Raman spectroscopy. XRD patterns show broad diffuse contributions due to amorphization in implanted samples. SEM images show grains collapsing and mounds’ formation over the surface due to mass transport. The peaks of the Raman spectra were broadened and also the peak intensities were decreased for the samples irradiated with 15.8?MeV Au⁵⁺ ions at a fluence of 5?×?10¹⁵?ion/cm². The percentage increase/decrease in amorphization and recrystallization has been estimated from Raman and XRD data, which support the synergistic effects being operative due to comparable nuclear and electronic energy losses at 15.8?MeV Au⁵⁺ ion implantation. Effect of thermal treatment on implanted samples is also probed and discussed.     

Geometries, stabilities, and electronic properties of Be-doped gold clusters: a density functional theory study

We have systematically investigated the geometrical structures, relative stabilities and electronic properties of small bimetallic AunBe (n = 1, 2, . . . , 8) clusters using a density functional method at BP86 level. The optimized geometries reveal that the impurity beryllium atom dramatically affects the structures of the Aun clusters. The averaged binding energies, fragmentation energies, second-order difference of energies, the highest occupied-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy gaps and chemical hardness are investigated. All of them exhibit a pronounced odd-even alternation, manifesting that the clusters with even number of gold atoms possess relatively higher stabilities. Especially, the linear Au2Be cluster is magic cluster with the most stable chemical stability. According to the natural population analysis, it is found that charge-transferring direction between Au atom and Be atom changes at the size of n = 4.     

Anisotropy of the surface properties of germanium in contact with an electrolyte containing gold ions

Recombination curves and polarization curves as well as the differential capacitance of an interface layer and the deflection of energy-band surfaces as functions of the electrode potential have been measured at the interface between n-germanium and 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ + (10^?8 to 10^?6) M Au³⁺ by a complex method. The lattice planes (111), (110), and (100) of germanium were examined. It has been shown that the parameters of states implanted during gold deposition depend on the surface orientation. A correlation has been discovered between the ratio of the hole-entrapment section to the electron-entrapment section and the electrode potential of plane-energy bands. This relation indicates that the parameters of recombination centers depend on the potential distribution across the electric double layer. The study was also concerned with the kinetics of recombination centers generated during gold deposition. It is suggested that the surface states at germanium surfaces in contact with a neutral electrolyte are of the same nature, whether or not such surfaces have been doped with gold.     

AunY(n＝1—9)掺杂团簇的结构和电子性质研究

采用相对论有效原子实势(RECP)近似和密度泛函(B3LYP)方法，选择LANL2DZ基组，优化得到了Au_nY(n＝1—9)二元掺杂团簇稳定的基态结构和电子性质.研究结果表明，掺杂Y原子的Au_nY(n＝1—9)团簇随n的变化，其电离势、电子亲合能和费米能级与Au_n(n＝2—9)一样具有“奇-偶”振荡效应；团簇离子的稳定性具有“幻数”现象，Au₂Y⁺和Au₆Y⁺比其他团簇离子更稳定，与质谱实验结果一致；同一团簇中，团簇最稳定的异构体(基态)是趋于Y原子有最大的邻近的Au原子数. 关键词： Au-Y团簇 密度泛函 平衡几何结构 电子性质     

Catalytically active gold clusters and nanoparticles for CO oxidation

Electronic states of gold nanoparticles in mordenite and their transformations under redox treatments have been studied by the methods of FTIR spectroscopy of adsorbed CO and diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy. Different states of ionic and metallic gold were detected in the zeolite channels and on the external surface of the zeolite - Au⁺ and Au³⁺ ions, charged clusters , and neutral nanoparticles Au_m. Catalytic tests of the samples revealed the existence of two types of active sites of gold in CO oxidation - gold clusters <2 nm (low-temperature activity) and gold nanoparticles (high temperature activity).     

Derivatives of the thiolate-protected gold cluster Au25(SR)18-1

Loss of small fragments (like AuL, Au₂L₃, Au₄L₄) have been found systematically in several MALDI and FAB experiments on thiolate-protected gold clusters of different sizes. When using the cluster Au₂₅L₁₈ ^-1 as parent cluster, the fragmented cluster Au₂₁L₁₄ ^-1 has been reported to be obtained in high proportion (L = SCH₂CH₂Ph). Here we analyse a few possible fragmentation patterns of the well-known parent cluster Au₂₅L₁₈ ^-1 (L = SCH₃). Using DFT calculations we study the different atomic configurations obtained after a AuL fragment is lost from Au₂₅L₁₈ ^-1. We found energetically favourable configurations that can be written as Au₁₃ [Au₂L₃]_6-z [AuL₂] _z ^-1, where the modification can be described as a replacement of the long protecting unit by a short one (Au₂L₃  →  AuL₂). A full replacement (z = 6) gives rise to a protected Au₁₉L₁₂ ^-1 cluster. This mechanism does not modify the super-atomic electronic structure of the gold core, i.e., all these fragments remain an 8 electron super-atom clusters exactly like the parent Au₂₅L₁₈ ^-1. We suggest that the Au₁₉L₁₂ ^-1 cluster could be realized by using a bulky thiolate, such as the tert-butyl thiolate SC(CH₃)₃ .     

Annealing of radiation-induced defects in ion-implanted AIIBVI single crystals

The basic characteristics of annealing of implanted layers of A^II-B^VI compounds are studied. The equilibrium, quasiequilibrium, and nonequilibrium methods of annealing were employed. Equilibrium annealing was conducted in the saturated vapor of the metalloid at temperatures below the critical temperature, above which intense self-compensation processes start (T_cr 450–500°C for ZnS and ZnSe). If T_ann must be higher than T_cr owing to radiation-induced damage that is difficult to anneal, than the method of annealing under an active protective film was employed. For ZnSe and ZnS with an implanted acceptor impurity the protective film consisted of gold or silver sputtered on the crystal prior to annealing. Thus implantation of ions enabled obtaining layers of p-type ZnS with resistivities of 10²–10³ ·cm. The ZnSe layers with hole conductivity were also obtained with electron annealing under a protective gold film with weak-current beams with durations of several seconds. Quasiequilibrium annealing was conducted in the activated vapor of the metalloid. The vapor was activated by a high-frequency discharge in the vapor of the metalloid. This method of annealing gave sharp p-n junctions on implanted ZnSe. Pulsed electron beams were employed for nonequilibrium annealing.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 3, pp. 51–56, March, 1989.     

Interaction of gold and silver cluster cations with CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>Br: thermal and photoinduced reaction pathways

The reactions of free, size selected Au _n ⁺ (n = 1–3, 5, 7) and Ag₃ ⁺ clusters with CH₃Br as well as the photodissociation of the resulting complexes at 266 nm were studied in a radio frequency ion trap under multiple collision conditions. CH₃Br was found to interact more strongly with the gold clusters than with the silver clusters. All investigated metal clusters exhibited characteristic size dependent adsorbate coverages. Furthermore, the successive loss of methyl radicals was identified as a major thermal reaction channel of the adsorbed CH₃Br molecules. Photodissociation experiments were performed with the product complexes of the trimer clusters and revealed the strongly preferred light-induced fragmentation of Au₃Br₃ ⁺ and Ag₃Br₃ ⁺, respectively, over any other thermal reaction products. However, whereas in the case of the gold cluster complexes the bare Au₃ ⁺ was exclusively re-formed through laser irradiation, considerable photoinduced metal cluster fragmentation occurred in the case of Ag₃Br₃ ⁺.     

Structural evolution of glutathionate-protected gold clusters studied by means of 197 Au Mössbauer spectroscopy

¹⁹⁷Au Mössbauer spectra of a series of glutathionate-protected gold clusters, Au _n (SG) _m , with n = 10 ? ~55, were re-analyzed to understand the structure evolution behavior. The numbers of gold atoms coordinated by different numbers (0, 1, and 2) of the GS ligands were successfully determined by assuming individual isomer shifts and quadrupole splittings for the three sites in Au₂₅(SG)₁₈ (Tsukuda et al., Chem Lett 40:1292, 2011). The analysis revealed the drastic structural evolution of Au _n (SG) _m in the range of n = 10 ? ~55. In Au₁₀(SG)₁₀, all the gold atoms are bonded to GS ligands, indicating –Au–S(G)– cyclic structures. A catenane structure was proposed for Au₁₀(SG)₁₀. At n = 25, a single Au atom without the GS ligation appeared, consistent with the formation of an icosahedral Au₁₃ core protected by six staples, –S(G)–[Au–S(G)–]₂. At n = 39, it is considered that Au₃₉(SG)₂₄ has a similar structure to that of Au₃₈(SC₂H₄Ph)₂₄ with face-fused bi-icosahedral Au₂₃ core.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the growth of gold nanoparticles by reduction of tetrachloroauric acid by hydrazine in Triton N-42 reverse micelles

The kinetics of the growth of gold nanoparticles during the reduction of tetrachloroauric acid by hydrazine in dispersed aqueous solution encapsulated by reverse micelles of Triton N-42 surfactant (with decane as dispersion medium) was studied by means of spectrophotometry. According to DLS data, at a set value of solubilization capacity V _s/V _o = 0.005 initial micelles have an aqueous core hydrodynamic diameter d _c = 3.6±0.2 nm. The final particles obtained after full reduction of Au^III have a metallic core of defect-free single-crystalline gold with a narrow size distribution and average core diameter d _Au = 7.7 ± 1.4 nm as shown by TEM. The rate of the particle growth is limited by the rate of gold reduction. The process kinetics corresponds to the model consisting of two stages of reduction Au^III → Au^I → Au⁰. The stages involve the formation and redox decay of the intermediate complexes Au(N₂H₄)Cl₃ and Au(N₂H₄)Cl, and each stage proceeds via two routes: (1) homogeneous in the dispersed aqueous phase, and (2) heterogeneous on the particle surfaces. Reactions taking route (2) are autocatalytic because they proceed with participation of the surface atoms of particles as the final products of Au^III reduction. The dependencies of observed rate constants on reagent concentrations, temperature, and solubilization capacity of the micellar solution are studied.     

Reactivity of anionic gold oxide clusters towards CO: experiment and theory

In this paper, we present results from our joint experimental and theoretical study of the reactivity of anionic gold oxide clusters Au_2,3O_1-4 ^- towards CO. We provide clear evidence that, although O–O bond weakening/dissociation is important to enable CO oxidation, the presence of atomic oxygen can be favorable but is not always sufficient. Furthermore, we show that with the addition of a single gold atom the reactivity channels can be changed. As a consequence, in contrast to CO oxidation in the case of anionic gold dimer oxides, association of CO or replacement of O₂ by CO become the dominant reaction channels for Au₃O_n ^-. This demonstrates the nonscalable properties of gold clusters in the size regime in which each atom counts.     

The gold donor and acceptor level in p-type silicon

DLTS measurements on the gold donoe and acceptor level in p-type silicon and reported. From the experimental data it must be concluded that the gold donor and the acceptor level are caused by the same defect, that the acceptor level lying 0.546eV below the conduction band is temperature independently pinned to the conduction band and that the hole capture cross section of the acceptor level

_P^A is temperature independent in the measured range of 215 to 345 K.