| Autor: |
Mullins, S.-M., Weissker, H.-Ch., Sinha-Roy, R., Pelayo, J. J., Garzón, I. L., Whetten, R. L., López-Lozano, X. |
| Zdroj: |
Nature Communications; 8/22/2018, Vol. 9, p1-9, 9p |
| Abstrakt: |
The combination of profound chirality and high symmetry on the nm-scale is unusual and would open exciting avenues, both fundamental and applied. Here we show how the unique electronic structure and bonding of quasi-2D gold makes this possible. We report a chiral symmetry breaking, i.e., the spontaneous formation of a chiral-icosahedral shell (I-Au60) from achiral (Uh) precursor forms, accompanied by a contraction in the Au-Au bonding and hence the radius of this perfect golden sphere, in which all 60 sites are chemically equivalent. This structure, which resembles the most complex of semi-regular (Archimedean) polyhedra (34.5*), may be viewed as an optimal solution to the topological problem: how to close a 60-vertex 2D (triangular) net in 3D. The singular rigidity of the I-Au60 manifests in uniquely discrete structural, vibrational, electronic, and optical signatures, which we report herein as a guide to its experimental detection and ultimately its isolation in material forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
Complementary Index |
| Externí odkaz: |
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