Doping Golden Buckyballs: Cu@Au 16 − and Cu@Au 17 − Cluster Anions

Golden cage: The two smallest anionic gold cages, Au16− and Au17−, are doped with a Cu atom to give the cluster anions CuAu16− (see picture) and CuAu17−, respectively. The photoelectron spectra of CuAu16− and CuAu17− suggest that the doping does not alter the structures of the parent cages. Theoretical studies confirm that the Cu atom resides in the center of the gold cages, similar to the situation with endohedral fullerenes.