Faradaurate-940: Synthesis, mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, high-energy X-ray diffraction, and X-ray scattering study of Au _∼940±20(SR)_∼160±4 nanocrystals

Obtaining monodisperse nanocrystals and determining their composition to the atomic level and their atomic structure is highly desirable but is generally lacking. Here, we report the discovery and comprehensive characterization of a 2.9 nm plasmonic nanocrystal with a composition of Au _940±20(SCH₂CH₂Ph) _160±4, which is the largest mass spectrometrically characterized gold thiolate nanoparticle produced to date. The compositional assignment has been made using electrospray ionization and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MS). The MS results show an unprecedented size monodispersity, where the number of Au atoms varies by only 40 atoms (940 ± 20). The mass spectrometrically determined composition and size are supported by aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and synchrotron-based methods such as atomic pair distribution function (PDF) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Lower-resolution STEM images show an ensemble of particles-1000s per frame-visually demonstrating monodispersity. Modeling of SAXS data on statistically significant nanoparticle population-approximately 10¹² individual nanoparticles-shows that the diameter is 3.0 ± 0.2 nm, supporting mass spectrometry and electron microscopy results on monodispersity. Atomic PDF based on high-energy X-ray diffraction experiments shows decent match with either a Marks decahedral or truncated octahedral structure. Atomic resolution STEM images of single particles and their fast Fourier transform suggest face-centered cubic arrangement. UV-visible spectroscopy data show that Faradaurate-940 supports a surface plasmon resonance peak at ̃505 nm. These monodisperse plasmonic nanoparticles minimize averaging effects and have potential application in solar cells, nano-optical devices, catalysis, and drug delivery.