Raman Spectroscopic Fingerprints of Atomically Precise Ligand Protected Noble Metal Clusters: Au 38 (PET) 24 and Au 38− x Ag x (PET) 24

Distinct Raman spectroscopic signatures of the metal core of atomically precise, ligand-protected noble metal nanoclusters are reported using Au38 (PET)24 and Au38- x Agx (PET)24 (PET = 2-phenylethanethiolate, -SC2 H4 C6 H5 ) as model systems. The fingerprint Raman features (occurring <200 cm-1 ) of these clusters arise due to the vibrations involving metal atoms of their Au23 or Au23- x Agx cores. A distinct core breathing vibrational mode of the Au23 core has been observed at 90 cm-1 . Whereas the breathing mode shifts to higher frequencies with increasing Ag content of the cluster, the vibrational signatures due to the outer metal-ligand staple motifs (between 200 and 500 cm-1 ) do not s…