Supramolecular functionalization and concomitant enhancement in properties of Au25 clusters

We present a versatile approach for tuning the surface functionality of an atomically precise 25 atom gold cluster using specific host-guest interactions between ?-cyclodextrin (CD) and the ligand anchored on the cluster. The supramolecular interaction between the Au25 cluster protected by 4-(t-butyl)benzyl mercaptan, labeled Au25SBB18, and CD yielding Au25SBB18�?�CDn (n = 1, 2, 3, and 4) has been probed experimentally using various spectroscopic techniques and was further analyzed by density functional theory calculations and molecular modeling. The viability of our method in modifying the properties of differently functionalized Au25 clusters is demonstrated. Besides modifying their optoe…