Interparticle Reactions: An Emerging Direction in Nanomaterials Chemistry.

Nanoparticles exhibit a rich variety in terms of structure, composition, and properties. However, reactions between them remain largely unexplored. In this Account, we discuss an emerging aspect of nanomaterials chemistry, namely, interparticle reactions in solution phase, similar to reactions between molecules, involving atomically precise noble metal clusters. A brief historical account of the developments, starting from the bare, gas phase clusters, which led to the synthesis of atomically precise monolayer protected clusters in solution, is presented first. Then a reaction between two thiolate-protected, atomically precise noble metal clusters, [Au25(PET)18]- and [Ag44(FTP)30]4- (PET = 2-phenylethanethiol, FTP = 4-fluorothiophenol), is presented wherein these clusters spontaneously exchange metal atoms, ligands, and metal-ligand fragments between them under ambient conditions. The number of exchanged species could be controlled by varying the initial compositions of the reactant clusters. Next, a reaction of [Au25(PET)18]- with its structural analogue [Ag25(DMBT)18]- (DMBT = 2,4-dimethylbenzenethiol) is presented, which shows that atom-exchange reactions happen with structures conserved. We detected a transient dianionic adduct, [Ag25Au25(DMBT)18(PET)18]2-, formed between the two clusters indicating that this adduct could be a possible intermediate of the reaction. A reaction involving a dithiolate-protected cluster, [Ag29(BDT)12]3- (BDT = 1,3-benzenedithiol), is also presented wherein metal atom exchange alone occurs, but with no ligand and fragment exchanges. These examples demonstrate that the nature of the metal-thiolate interface, that is, its bonding network and dynamics, play crucial roles in dictating the type of exchange processes and overall rates. We also discuss a recently proposed structural model of these clusters, namely, the Borromean ring model, to understand the dynamics of the metal-ligand interfaces and to address the site specificity and selectivity in these reactions. In the subsequent sections, reactions involving atomically precise noble metal clusters and one- and two-dimensional nanosystems are presented. We show that highly protected, stable clusters such as [Au25(PET)18]- undergo chemical transformation on graphenic surfaces to form a bigger cluster, Au135(PET)57. Finally, we present the transformation of tellurium nanowires (Te NWs) to Ag-Te-Ag dumbbell nanostructures through a reaction with an atomically precise silver cluster, Ag32(SG)19 (SG = glutathione thiolate). The starting materials and the products were characterized using high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry, UV/vis absorption, luminescence spectroscopies, etc. We have analyzed principally mass spectrometric data to understand these reactions. In summary, we present the emergence of a new branch of chemistry involving the reactions of atomically precise cluster systems, which are prototypical nanoparticles. We demonstrate that such interparticle chemistry is not limited to metal clusters; it occurs across zero-, one-, and two-dimensional nanosystems leading to specific transformations. We conclude this Account with a discussion of the limitations in understanding of these reactions and future directions in this area of nanomaterials chemistry.

Intercluster Reactions between Au25(SR)18 and Ag44(SR)30.

We present the first example of intercluster reactions between atomically precise, monolayer protected noble metal clusters using Au25(SR)18 and Ag44(SR)30 (RS- = alkyl/aryl thiolate) as model compounds. These clusters undergo spontaneous reaction in solution at ambient conditions. Mass spectrometric measurements both by electrospray ionization and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization show that the reaction occurs through the exchange of metal atoms and protecting ligands of the clusters. Intercluster alloying is demonstrated to be a much more facile method for heteroatom doping into Au25(SR)18, as observed by doping up to 20 Ag atoms. We investigated the thermodynamic feasibility of the reaction using DFT calculations and a tentative mechanism has been presented. Metal core-thiolate interfaces in these clusters play a crucial role in inducing these reactions and also affect rates of these reactions. We hope that our work will help accelerate activities in this area to establish chemistry of monolayer protected clusters.

Manifestation of Geometric and Electronic Shell Structures of Metal Clusters in Intercluster Reactions.

Monolayer protected clusters exhibit rich diversity in geometric and electronic structures. However, structure-reactivity relationships in these clusters are rarely explored. In this context, [Ag44(SR)30]4-, where -SR is an alkyl/aryl thiolate, is an interesting system due to its geometrically and electronically closed-shell structures and distinct charge states. We demonstrate that these structural features of [Ag44(SR)30]4- are distinctly manifested in its solution-state reaction with another cluster, [Au25(SR)18]-. Through this reaction, an alloy cluster anion, [Au12Ag32(SR)30]4-, evolves spontaneously as revealed by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations indicate that [Au12Ag32(SR)30]4- is formed by the substitution of all of the Ag atoms in the innermost icosahedral shell of [Ag44(SR)30]4- and the abundance is attributed to its higher stability due to closed geometric as well as electronic shell structure, similar to the reactant clusters. We further demonstrate that the substitution of metal atoms in the middle dodecahedral shell and the outermost mount sites are also possible, however such substitutions produce AuxAg44-x(SR)30 alloy clusters with geometrically and electronically open shells. Depending on specific sites of substitution, an unexpected superatom-nonsuperatom transition occurs in the distribution of AuxAg44-x(SR)30 alloy clusters formed in this reaction. Our results present a unique example of a structure-reactivity relationship in the metal atom substitution chemistry of monolayer protected clusters, wherein a systematic trend, reflecting the geometric and the electronic shell structures of the reactant as well as the product clusters, was observed.

Structure-conserving spontaneous transformations between nanoparticles.

Ambient, structure- and topology-preserving chemical reactions between two archetypal nanoparticles, Ag25(SR)18 and Au25(SR)18, are presented. Despite their geometric robustness and electronic stability, reactions between them in solution produce alloys, AgmAun(SR)18 (m+n=25), keeping their M25(SR)18 composition, structure and topology intact. We demonstrate that a mixture of Ag25(SR)18 and Au25(SR)18 can be transformed to any arbitrary alloy composition, AgmAun(SR)18 (n=1-24), merely by controlling the reactant compositions. We capture one of the earliest events of the process, namely the formation of the dianionic adduct, (Ag25Au25(SR)36)2-, by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Molecular docking simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations also suggest that metal atom exchanges occur through the formation of an adduct between the two clusters. DFT calculations further confirm that metal atom exchanges are thermodynamically feasible. Such isomorphous transformations between nanoparticles imply that microscopic pieces of matter can be transformed completely to chemically different entities, preserving their structures, at least in the nanometric regime.

Ambient solid-state mechano-chemical reactions between functionalized carbon nanotubes.

Carbon nanotubes can be chemically modified by attaching various functionalities to their surfaces, although harsh chemical treatments can lead to their break-up into graphene nanostructures. On the other hand, direct coupling between functionalities bound on individual nanotubes could lead to, as yet unexplored, spontaneous chemical reactions. Here we report an ambient mechano-chemical reaction between two varieties of nanotubes, carrying predominantly carboxyl and hydroxyl functionalities, respectively, facilitated by simple mechanical grinding of the reactants. The purely solid-state reaction between the chemically differentiated nanotube species produces condensation products and unzipping of nanotubes due to local energy release, as confirmed by spectroscopic measurements, thermal analysis and molecular dynamic simulations.