Study reveals principles behind stability and electronic properties of gold nanoclusters

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(a) Spacefilling and (b) ball-and-stick representations of 102-atom gold nanoparticle (c d) 79-atom gold core surface with 23-atom protective layer (e) Close-up of protective layer units and (f g) 79-atom core. Image courtesy of Hannu Hkkinen
(a) Spacefilling and (b) ball-and-stick representations of 102-atom gold nanoparticle; (c, d) 79-atom gold core surface with 23-atom protective layer; (e) Close-up of protective layer units; and (f, g) 79-atom core. Image courtesy of Hannu Häkkinen
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A report published in the July 8 issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) is the first to describe the principles behind the stability and electronic properties of tiny nanoclusters of metallic gold. The study, which confirms the "divide and protect" bonding structure, resulted from the work of researchers at four universities on two continents.


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