Core Modulation of 70‐Nuclei Core‐Shell Silver Nanoclusters

The reaction of {(HNEt₃)₂[Ag₁₀(tBuC₆H₄S)₁₂]}_n, Ag₂O, Na₂MoO₄, and m‐methoxybenzoic acid (Hmbc) in CH₃OH/CH₂Cl₂ led to yellow crystals of [Ag₄S₄ (MoO₄)₅@Ag₆₆] (SD/Ag70b; SD=SunDi) only, while in the presence of DMF, additional dark‐red crystals of [Ag₁₀@ (MoO₄)₇@Ag₆₀] (SD/Ag70a) were obtained. SD/Ag70b consists of five MoO₄^2? ions wrapped by a shell of 66 Ag atoms, while SD/Ag70a contains a rare Ag₁₀ kernel consisting of five tetrahedra sharing faces and edges, surrounded by seven MoO₄^2? ions enclosed in a shell of 60 Ag atoms. The formation of the Ag₁₀ kernel originates from a reduction reaction during the self‐assembly process that involves DMF. This work provides the structural information of a unique Ag₁₀ kernel (five fused Ag₄ tetrahedra) and paves an avenue to trap elusive silver species with hierarchical multi‐shell silver nanocluster assemblies with the help of anion templates.     

Stabilization of [WF5]+ by Bidentate N‐Donor Ligands

Transition‐metal hexafluorides do not exhibit fluoride‐ion donor properties in the absence of donor ligands. We report the first synthesis of donor‐stabilized [MF₅]⁺ derived from a transition‐metal hexafluoride via fluoride‐ion abstraction using WF₆(L) (L=2,2′‐bipy, 1,10‐phen) and SbF₅(OSO) in SO₂. The [WF₅(L)][Sb₂F₁₁] salts and [WF₅(1,10‐phen)][SbF₆]?SO₂ have been characterized by X‐ray crystallography, Raman spectroscopy, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The reaction of WF₆(2,2′‐bipy) with an equimolar amount of SbF₅(OSO) reveals an equilibrium between [WF₅(2,2′‐bipy)]⁺ and the [WF₄(2,2′‐bipy)₂]²⁺ dication, as determined by ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. The geometries of the cations in the solid state are reproduced by gas‐phase geometry optimizations (DFT‐B3LYP), and NBO analyses reveal that the positive charges of the cations are stabilized primarily by compensatory σ‐electron donation from the N‐donor ligands.     

Au130−xAgx Nanoclusters with Non‐Metallicity: A Drum of Silver‐Rich Sites Enclosed in a Marks‐Decahedral Cage of Gold‐Rich Sites

The synthesis and structure of atomically precise Au_130?xAg_x (average x=98) alloy nanoclusters protected by 55 ligands of 4‐tert‐butylbenzenethiolate are reported. This large alloy structure has a decahedral M₅₄ (M=Au/Ag) core. The Au atoms are localized in the truncated Marks decahedron. In the core, a drum of Ag‐rich sites is found, which is enclosed by a Marks decahedral cage of Au‐rich sites. The surface is exclusively Ag?SR; X‐ray absorption fine structure analysis supports the absence of Au?S bonds. The optical absorption spectrum shows a strong peak at 523 nm, seemingly a plasmon peak, but fs spectroscopic analysis indicates its non‐plasmon nature. The non‐metallicity of the Au_130?xAg_x nanocluster has set up a benchmark to study the transition to metallic state in the size evolution of bimetallic nanoclusters. The localized Au/Ag binary architecture in such a large alloy nanocluster provides atomic‐level insights into the Au?Ag bonds in bimetallic nanoclusters.     

Alternating Array Stacking of Ag26Au and Ag24Au Nanoclusters

An assembly strategy for metal nanoclusters using electrostatic interactions with weak interactions, such as C?H???π and π???π interactions in which cationic [Ag₂₆Au(2‐EBT)₁₈(PPh₃)₆]⁺ and anionic [Ag₂₄Au(2‐EBT)₁₈]^? nanoclusters gather and assemble in an unusual alternating array stacking structure is presented. [Ag₂₆Au(2‐EBT)₁₈(PPh₃)₆]⁺ [Ag₂₄Au(2‐EBT)₁₈]^? is a new compound type, a double nanocluster ion compound (DNIC). A single nanocluster ion compound (SNIC) [PPh₄]⁺ [Ag₂₄Au(2‐EBT)₁₈]^? was also synthesized, having a k‐vector‐differential crystallographic arrangement. [PPh₄]⁺ [Ag₂₄Au(2,4‐DMBT)₁₈]^? adopts a different assembly mode from both [Ag₂₆Au(2‐EBT)₁₈(PPh₃)₆]⁺ [Ag₂₄Au(2‐EBT)₁₈]^? and [PPh₄]⁺ [Ag₂₄Au(2‐EBT)₁₈]^?. Thus, the striking packing differences of [Ag₂₆Au(2‐EBT)₁₈(PPh₃)₆]⁺ [Ag₂₄Au(2‐EBT)₁₈]^?, [PPh₄]⁺ [Ag₂₄Au(2‐EBT)₁₈]^? and the existing [PPh₄]⁺ [Ag₂₄Au(2,4‐DMBT)₁₈]^? from each other indicate the notable influence of ligands and counterions on the self‐assembly of nanoclusters.     

Redox‐Driven Migration of Copper Ions in the Cu‐CHA Zeolite as Shown by the In Situ PXRD/XANES Technique

Using quasi‐simultaneous in situ PXRD and XANES, the direct correlation between the oxidation state of Cu ions in the commercially relevant deNO_x NH₃‐SCR zeolite catalyst Cu‐CHA and the Cu ion migration in the zeolitic pores was revealed during catalytic activation experiments. A comparison with recent reports further reveals the high sensitivity of the redox‐active centers concerning heating rates, temperature, and gas environment during catalytic activation. Previously, Cu⁺ was confirmed present only in the 6R. Results verify a novel 8R monovalent Cu site, an eventually large Cu⁺ presence upon heating to high temperatures in oxidative conditions, and demonstrate the unique potential in combining in situ PXRD and XANES techniques, with which both oxidation state and structural location of the redox‐active centers in the zeolite framework could be tracked.     

Pillar[5]arene‐Stabilized Silver Nanoclusters: Extraordinary Stability and Luminescence Enhancement Induced by Host–Guest Interactions

Herein, we report the synthesis of a new class of functional silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) capped with pillar[5]arene (P5)‐based host ligands. These NCs are readily prepared through direct synthesis or ligand exchange synthesis and are stable at room temperature for over 4 months. The pillar[5]arene‐stabilized NCs (Ag₂₉(LA‐P5)₁₂(TPP)₂) endorse reversible host–guest interactions with neutral alkylamines and cationic quaternary ammonium guests. This results in the formation of spherical assemblies with unparalleled changes in their optical properties including an astonishing circa 2000‐fold luminescence enhancement. This is the highest luminescence enhancement ratio reported so far for such atomically precise NCs. Our synthetic protocol paves the way for the preparation of a new generation of metal nanoclusters protected by macrocyclic ligands with molecular recognition and selectivity toward specific guests.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Air‐stable N‐type Field‐Effect Transistor Behaviors of Functionalized Octaazanonacene‐8,19‐dione

Increasing the length of N‐heteroacenes or their analogues is highly desirable because such materials could have great potential applications in organic electronics. In this report, the large π‐conjugated N‐heteroquinone 6,10,17,21‐tetra‐((triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl)‐5,7,9,11,16,18,20,22‐octaazanonacene‐8,19‐dione (OANQ) has been synthesized and characterized. The as‐prepared OANQ shows high stability under ambient conditions and has a particularly low LUMO level, which leads to it being a promising candidate for air‐stable n‐type field‐effect transistors (FETs). In fact, FET devices based on OANQ single crystals have been fabricated and an electron mobility of up to 0.2 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ under ambient conditions is reported. More importantly, no obvious degradation was observed even after one month. Theoretical calculations based on the single crystal are consistent with the measured mobility.