In-situ generation and global property profiling of metal nanoclusters by ultraviolet laser dissociation-mass spectrometry

Metal nanoclusters are promising nanomaterials with unique properties, but only a few ones with specific numbers of metal atoms can be obtained and studied up to now. In this study, we establish a new paradigm of in-situ generation and global study of metal nanoclusters with different sizes, constitutions, and charge states, including both accurate constitution characterization and global activity profiling. The complex mixtures of metal nanoclusters are produced by employing single-pulsed 193-nm laser dissociation of monolayer-protected cluster (MPC) precursors within a high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). More than 400 types of bare gold nanoclusters including novel multiply charged (2+ and 3+), S-/P-doped, and silver alloy ones can be efficiently generated and accurately characterized. A distinct size (1 to 142 atoms)- and charge (1+ to 3+)-hierarchy reactivity is clearly observed for the first time. This global cluster study might greatly promote the developments and applications of novel metal nanoclusters.