Nitrate electroreduction to ammonia catalysed by atomically precise AuCu clusters.

A novel bimetal cluster [AuCu(SR)](PPh) (SR = 2,4-dichlorothiophenol) has been successfully synthesized, which can be viewed as a Au@Au core and four trimeric Cu(SR) staples. Compared to monometallic Au(TBBT) and Cu(CHT)(PPh) clusters, the [AuCu(CHClS)](PPh) cluster has much higher catalytic efficiency for nitrate electroreduction to ammonia.

Diachronic evolvement from tetra-icosahedral to quasi-hexagonal close-packed bimetal clusters.

Here we report a diachronic evolvement from tetra-icosahedral AuAg(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CR) to quasi-hcp (hexagonal close-packed) AuAg(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CR) a one-step reduction, in which the size/structure conversion of the two clusters is not a typical Oswald growth process, but involves interface shrinking followed by core rearrangement and surface polymerization. AuAg(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CR) has an aesthetic AuAg kernel that is composed of four interpenetrating AuAg icosahedra, while AuAg(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CR) has a twisted Au core capped by a AuAg shell that are stacked in a layer-by-layer manner with a quasi-hcp pattern. The discovery of the two clusters not only provides further evidence for icosahedral clusters with longer excited-state lifetime compared to hcp-like clusters, but also discloses a double increase in catalytic reactivity for electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol over quasi-hcp clusters in comparison with icosahedral clusters.

Ag Doped Au Nanoclusters for Electrocatalytic Conversion of CO to CO.

A novel Ag doped Au (C H ) nanocluster (C H =1-ethynyl-2,4-dimethylbenzene) was synthesized, that is, Ag Au (C H ) (x≤6), where four Ag positions located in the surface staple of the cluster have been determined, while six Au/Ag co-occupying positions have been found in the metal core of the cluster. The electronic configuration of Au (C H ) cluster is significantly disturbed by doping Ag atoms, hence promoting the electron transport capability. For the two-electron conversion reaction of CO to CO in electrochemical reduction of CO , Ag doped Ag Au (C H ) catalyst exhibited higher effective activity and long-term stability than its counterpart Au (C H ) catalyst.

Evolution from superatomic AuAg monomers into molecular-like AuAg dimeric nanoclusters.

Hierarchical assembly of nanoparticles has been attracting wide interest, as advanced functionalities can be achieved. However, the ability to manipulate structural evolution of artificial nanoparticles into assemblies with atomic precision has been largely unsuccessful. Here we report the evolution from monomeric AuAu into dimeric AuAg nanoclusters: AuAg inherits the kernel frameworks from parent AuAg but exhibits distinct surface motifs; AuAg is racemic, while AuAg is mesomeric.

Small peripheral lung adenocarcinoma: CT and histopathologic characteristics and prognostic implications.

Since the introduction of computed tomography (CT), detection of small lung cancer, especially small peripheral adenocarcinoma, is common. Recently, the morphological characteristics, including thin-section CT and pathologic findings, and prognosis of small peripheral lung adenocarcinomas have been studied extensively. The radiologic and microscopic findings correlate well with each other and are closely associated with tumour prognosis.