A Homoleptic Alkynyl‐Protected Au(I)9‐Ag(I)9 Cluster: Structure Analysis, Optical Properties, and Catalytic Implications

We report the structure analysis, optical property, and catalytic implications of homoleptic alkynyl-protected Au(I)-Ag(I) nanocluster, namely Au9Ag9(C equivalent to CArF)(18) (abbreviated as Au9 Ag9 hereafter). Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis disclosed that, the core of Au9Ag9 cluster features intriguing ichthyomorphic assembled structure driven by metallophilic interactions and Au-acetylide linkages. The Au9Ag9 nanocluster is fluorescent in both solution and solid state, and it has much higher quantum yield in solid state. In the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) test, Au9Ag9 nanocluster exhibits a favorable overpotential of 274 mV at 10 mA cm(-2) with a Tafel slope of 99 mV dec(-1), which markedly surpass than the [Au(C equivalent to C-Ar-F)](f) and [Ag(C equivalent to C-Ar-F)](f) control samples. Furthermore, Au9Ag9 nanocluster shows much higher activity than the other two to catalyze the reduction of 4-nitrophenol.