Cocrystallization-driven Formation of fcc-based Ag Nanocluster with Chinese Triple Luban Lock Shape.

Luban locks with mortise and tenon structure have structural diversity and architectural stability, and it is extremely challenging to synthesize Luban lock-like structures at the molecular level. In this work, we report the cocrystallization of two structurally related atom-precise fcc silver nanoclusters Ag (SPhF) (PPh ) (Ag ) and Ag (μ -S)(SPhF) (PPh ) (Ag ). It is worth noting that the Ag cluster is the first compound to simulate the complex Luban lock structure at the molecular level. Meanwhile, Ag is the largest known fcc-based silver nanocluster, so far, there is no precedent for fcc silver nanocluster with more than 100 silver atoms. DFT calculations show that Ag is a 58-electron superatom with an electronically closed shell1S 1P 1D 2S 1F 2P 1G . Ag ⋅Ag can rapidly catalyze the reduction of 4-nitrophenol within 4 minutes. In addition, Ag presents clear structural evidence to reveal the critical size and mechanism of the transformation of metal core from fcc stacking to quasi-spherical superatom. This research work provides an important structural model for studying the nucleation mechanism and structural assembly of silver nanoclusters.