Structural patterns at all scales in a nonmetallic chiral Au 133 (SR) 52 nanoparticle

• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1500045
• Publication Date: 2015-03-21T04:03:47Z
• Authors: Chenjie Zeng; Yuxiang Chen; Kristin Kirschbaum; Kannatassen Appavoo; Matthew Y. Sfeir; Rongchao Jin
• Keywords: Carbon Nanoparticles; Carbon fibers

Structural ordering is widely present in molecules and materials. However, the organization of on curved surface nanoparticles still least understood owing to major limitations current characterization tools. By merits x-ray crystallography, we reveal structural at all scales a super robust 133-gold atom nanoparticle protected by 52 thiolate ligands, which manifested self-assembled hierarchical patterns starting from metal core interfacial -S-Au-S- ladder-like helical "stripes" further "swirls" carbon tails. These complex have not been observed smaller nanoparticles. We demonstrate that Au133(SR)52 exhibits nonmetallic features optical electron dynamics measurements. Our work uncovers elegant self-organization strategies assembling highly provides conceptual advance scientific understanding pattern structures.