Effects of Cu doping on the structure and optical properties of Au11(dppf)4Cl2 nanocluster

An alloy nanocluster of Au-11-xCu(x)(dppf)(4)Cl-2 (x=1, 2; dppf= 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphine) ferrocene) was synthesized via a one-pot reduction method. X-ray crystallography shows that this nanocluster has a defective icosahedral core, which is analog to that of Au-11(dppf)(4)Cl-2. The difference lies in that Cu atoms replace the inner shell Au atoms that are coordinated with the Cl atom. Therefore, Au11-xCux(dppf)(4)Cl-2 can be regarded as Cu-doped Au-11(dppf)(4)Cl-2. The introduction of Cu atoms exerts an influence on the electronic property of the template nanocluster with the structural framework maintained, further resulting in a red shift of the optical absorption. CCDC: 2321758.