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We report the X-ray structure of a cyclohexanethiolate-capped Au23(SR)16(-) nanocluster (counterion: tetraoctylammonium, TOA(+)). The structure comprises a cuboctahedron-based bipyramidal Au15 kernel, which is protected by two staple-like trimeric Au3(SR)4 motifs, two monomeric Au(SR)2 and four plain bridging SR ligands. Electronic structure analysis reveals nonsuperatomic feature of Au23(SR)16(-) and confirms the Au15 kernel and surface motifs. The Au15 kernel and trimeric staple motif are unprecedented and offer new insight in understanding the structure evolution of gold nanoclusters.
Das et al. (Mon,) studied this question.