Search results for "CLUSTER"
showing 10 items of 3640 documents
Structural Evolution of Atomically Precise Thiolated Bimetallic [Au12+nCu32(SR)30+n]4– (n = 0, 2, 4, 6) Nanoclusters
2014
A series of all-thiol stabilized bimetallic Au-Cu nanoclusters, [Au(12+n)Cu32(SR)(30+n)](4-) (n = 0, 2, 4, 6 and SR = SPhCF3), are successfully synthesized and characterized by X-ray single-crystal analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Each cluster consists of a Keplerate two-shell Au12@Cu20 core protected by (6 - n) units of Cu2(SR)5 and n units of Cu2Au(SR)6 (n = 0, 2, 4, 6) motifs on its surface. The size and structural evolution of the clusters is atomically controlled by the Au precursors and countercations used in the syntheses. The clusters exhibit similar optical absorption properties that are not dependent on the number of surface Cu2Au(SR)6 units. Although DFT…
Optical Properties of Monolayer-Protected Aluminum Clusters: Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory Study
2015
We examine the electronic and optical properties of experimentally known monolayer-protected aluminum clusters Al4(C5H5)4, Al50(C5Me5)12, and Al69(N(SiMe3)2)183– using time-dependent density functional theory. By comparing Al4(C5H5)4 and the theoretical Al4(N(SiMe3)2)4 cluster, we observe significant changes in the optical absorption spectra caused by different hybridization between metal core and ligands. Using these initial observations, we explain the calculated spectra of Al50(C5Me5)12 and Al69(N(SiMe3)2)183–. Al50(C5Me5)12 shows a structured spectrum with clear regions of low-intensity core-to-core transitions followed by high-intensity ligand-to-core transitions due to its high symmet…
A Unified AMBER-Compatible Molecular Mechanics Force Field for Thiolate-Protected Gold Nanoclusters.
2016
We present transferable AMBER-compatible force field parameters for thiolate-protected gold nanoclusters. Five different sized clusters containing both organo-soluble and water-soluble thiolate ligands served as test systems in MD simulations, and parameters were validated against DFT and experimental results. The cluster geometries remain intact during the MD simulations in various solvents, and structural fluctuations and energetics showed agreement with DFT calculations. Experimental diffusion coefficients and crystal structures were also reproduced with sufficient accuracy. The presented parameter set contains the minimum number of cluster-specific parameters enabling the use of these p…
Electronic Structure and Optical Properties of the Intrinsically Chiral 16-Electron Superatom Complex [Au20(PP3)4]4+
2014
The recently solved crystal structure of the [Au20(PP3)4]Cl4 cluster (PP3: tris(2-(diphenylphophino)ethyl)phosphine) is examined using density functional theory (DFT). The Au20 core of the cluster is intrinsically chiral by the arrangement of the Au atoms. This is in contrast to the chirality of thiolate-protected gold clusters, in which the protecting Au-thiolate units are arranged in chiral patterns on achiral cores. We interpret the electronic structure of the [Au20(PP3)4]Cl4 cluster in terms of the superatom complex model. The 16-electron cluster cannot be interpreted as a dimer of 8-electron clusters (which are magic). Instead, a superatomic electron configuration of 1S(2) 1P(6) 1D(6) …
Symmetry breaking in ligand-protected gold clusters probed by nonlinear optics
2016
The first hyperpolarizabilities of [Au25(SR)18](-1/0) and Au38(SR)24 clusters were determined by Hyper-Rayleigh Scattering. A strong dependence on the molecular symmetry was observed, and we explore two strategies to destroy the center of inversion in [Au25(SR)18](-1/0), protection by chiral ligands and alloying of the cluster with silver. This may open new avenues to applications of Au : SR clusters in second-order nonlinear optics.
A DFT Study of Linear Gold–Thiolate Superclusters Absorbing in the Therapeutic NIR Window
2015
A series of linear clusters up to an aspect ratio of 1:6, formed as multimers of smaller clusters with an icosahedral Au13(5+) core having an eight-electron superatom configuration, are computationally predicted to have a greatly enhanced size-dependent absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) region extending to the biologically important NIR window. A novel structural model is presented for the previously isolated thiol-stabilized Au54(SR)30 cluster, where the metal core is formed as a heterodimer of the cores of the known Au25(SR)18(-/0) and Au38(SR)24 clusters.
The Role of the Anchor Atom in the Ligand of the Monolayer-Protected Au25(XR)18– Nanocluster
2015
We present a density functional theory (DFT) investigation on the role of the anchor atom and ligand on the structural, electronic, and optical properties of the anionic Au25(XR)18– nanocluster (X = S, Se, Te; R = H, CH3, and (CH2)2Ph). Substituting the anchor atom with other group 16 elements induces subtle changes in the Au–Au and Au–X bond lengths and polarization of the covalent bond. The changes in the electronic structure based on substituting both the anchor and R groups are presented through careful analysis of the density of states and theoretical determined optical spectra. We give a detailed side-by-side comparison into the structural, electronic, and optical properties of Au25(X…
The electronic structure of Ge9[Si(SiMe3)3]3-: a superantiatom complex.
2012
We report on the electronic structure of Ge(9)[Si(SiMe(3))(3)](3)(-). Systematic density functional theory analysis of the electronic shell structure of the cluster and its derivatives reveals that the Ge(9)[Si(SiMe(3))(3)](3)(-) and its neutral counterpart have electronic shells that can be explained using the superatom model. The ligand-core interaction of these complexes is distinctly different from previously identified gold, gallium, and aluminium superatom complexes, indicating an electron-donating rather than electron-withdrawing ligand. We modify the electron-counting rule for this case and introduce a simple picture for superatom and superantiatom complexes. Discussions comparing s…
Axiology of the historial city and the cap rate. The case of the old town of Ragusa Superiore
2017
Il contributo affronta il tema del ruolo che il mercato immobiliare assume nei processi di valorizzazione dei tessuti urbani storici nella logica dell’approccio al valor capitale. L’articolazione, eterogeneità e multi-contestualità del patrimonio immobiliare della città storica, la molteplicità delle relazioni tra valori e prezzo, la complessa dialettica fondo/flusso, l’eterogeneità dei profili dei soggetti economici che interagiscono nel mercato, danno vita ad un assortimento di approcci all’investimento immobiliare che in questo contributo, attraverso l’analisi del saggio di capitalizzazione si intendono rappresentare. La convergenza tra valori di contesto e potenzialità inespresse da una…
Recombinant nanocapsid for targeted theranostic delivery
2017
Developments in diagnostic and therapeutic delivery are trending towards molecular level targeting with nano-platforms. Targeted delivery reduces generalized distribution by localizing diagnostic and/or therapeutic (theranostic) molecules to an intended target site. The first section of this thesis proposes Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) nanocapsids as a vector to stabilize and target theranostic delivery. Derived from the capsid protein of HEV, a feco-orally transmitted virus, HEV-like particles self-assemble in to non-infectious, nanocapsids that can withstand harsh protease and pH conditions in the mucosal system. The flexible nanocapsid surface protrusion domain is amenable to substantial modi…