Citation: Hao Liu, Kang Li, Fengyi Li, Yan Zhao, Weigang Fan, Yong Pei, Man-Bo Li. Cobalt-kernelled icosahedral gold nanocluster[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(8): 111230. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111230 shu

Cobalt-kernelled icosahedral gold nanocluster

Hao Liu ^{a, 1} ,
Kang Li ^{b, 1} ,
Fengyi Li ^{a, 1} ,
Yan Zhao ^a ,
Weigang Fan ^a ,
Yong Pei ^{b, *,} ,
Man-Bo Li ^{a, *,}

a.
Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials of Ministry of Education, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
b.
Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Environmentally Friendly Chemistry and Applications of Ministry of Education, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China

ypnku78@gmail.com

mbli@ahu.edu.cn

Received Date: 4 March 2025
Revised Date: 10 April 2025
Accepted Date: 16 April 2025
Available Online: 17 April 2025

Figures(4)

We report herein the synthesis, structure and catalysis of a cobalt-kernelled icosahedral gold nanocluster CoAu₁₂, providing an opportunity for the in-depth understanding of rarely reported Co-doped gold nanoclusters. CoAu₁₂ possesses a symmetric and contracted metal kernel compared to the 4d and 5d metal-kernelled MAu₁₂ nanoclusters (M = Pd, Pt, Rh, Ir, Au), thus exhibiting highly structural stability. Meanwhile, CoAu₁₂ demonstrates efficient energy and electron transfer activity toward oxygen, thus endowing this nanocluster with exceptional catalytic activity in converting oxygen to singlet oxygen as well as superoxide. Structural features such as the unpaired electron of CoAu₁₂ have been verified as contributing to its catalytic activity. Efficient organic transformations involving singlet oxygen and superoxide were developed based on the structurally stable and catalytically active CoAu₁₂ nanocluster.
- Nanocluster synthesis,
- Nanocluster catalysis,
- Cobalt,
- Metal doping
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