Joint press release by Tokyo University of Science and Hokkaido University.
Researchers from Japan explore the key factors responsible for the synthesis of materials composed of silver-based superatoms
Superatomic molecules containing noble metal elements like gold and silver are studied for their potential in the synthesis of superatomic materials. However, the understanding of silver-based superatomic molecules has been limited. Addressing this gap, researchers from Japan studied two bimetallic superatomic molecules with silver as a main constituent to determine the key factors that enabled their formation. Their findings are expected to advance the development of novel materials in the future.
The formation of stable Ag-based nanoclusters require: (a) a bridging halogen that can maintain a moderate distance between the two Ag13−xMx structures, (b) a metal atom for a stable icosahedral core and (c) a combination of heteroatoms and bridging halogens that results in 16 valence electrons (Yuichi Negishi, Tokyo University of Science).
In the past few decades, metal nanoclusters composed of noble metal elements such as gold (Au) and silver (Ag) have gained attention as superatoms for the synthesis of materials with unique properties and potential new applications. These superatoms (also known as "artificial atoms") typically consist of a cluster of a few to several hundred atoms and exhibit properties that are significantly different from their bulk, conventional counterparts. However, much like real atoms, the stability of these superatoms is determined by the formation of a closed-shell electron structure.
Ag-based superatoms are known for their superior properties and functions, including photoluminescence and selective catalytic activity, compared to those of Au-based superatoms. However, most of the research in this field has been primarily focused on Au-based superatomic molecules.
To overcome this research gap, researchers from Japan studied the formation of superatomic molecules composed of Ag and evaluated the factors involved in this formation. This study was led by Professor Yuichi Negishi from Tokyo University of Science (TUS) with contributions from Dr. Sakiat Hossain from TUS, and Professor Tetsuya Taketsugu and Assistant Professor Takeshi Iwasa from Hokkaido University, and was published in the journal Communications Chemistry on 28 March 2023.
Read the full press release here.
