Solvent-Dependent Stability of Monolayer-Protected Au38 Clusters

Using a combination of electroanalytical techniques and mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that the stability of hexanethiolate-protected Au38 clusters is critically dependent on the dispersing solvent. In addition, the dispersing solvent significantly influences the cluster stability both in the presence of excess thiol and when charge is stored in the cluster core. The influence of the solvent should not be overlooked in synthesis and handling of monolayer-protected clusters.