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A copper cluster protected with phenylethanethiol

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Abstract

A copper cluster protected with 2-phenylethanethiol (PET) exhibiting distinct optical features in UV/Vis spectroscopy is reported. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometry of the cluster shows a well-defined molecular ion peak at m/z 5,800, assigned to ~Cu38(PET)25. Fragmented ions from the cluster show the expected isotope patterns in electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. The as-synthesized cluster was well-characterised using other tools as well. Clusters undergo decomposition in about 2 h after synthesis as a metallic few-atom core of copper is highly unstable. The products of decomposition were also characterised.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India for financial support. Thanks are due to SAIF, IIT Madras for the PXRD data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DST Unit of Nanoscience (DST UNS), Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India

    Anindya Ganguly, Indranath Chakraborty, Thumu Udayabhaskararao & Thalappil Pradeep

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  1. Anindya Ganguly
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  2. Indranath Chakraborty
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  3. Thumu Udayabhaskararao
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  4. Thalappil Pradeep
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Correspondence to Thalappil Pradeep.

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Ganguly, A., Chakraborty, I., Udayabhaskararao, T. et al. A copper cluster protected with phenylethanethiol. J Nanopart Res 15, 1522 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-013-1522-8

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