Synthesis of photocatalytic cysteine-capped Cu-approximate to 10 clusters using Cu-5 clusters as catalysts

We report an easily scalable synthesis method for the preparation of cysteine-capped Cu-approximate to 10 clusters through the reduction of Cu(ii) ions with NaBH4, using Cu-5 clusters as catalysts. The presence of such catalytic clusters allows controlling the formation of the larger Cu-approximate to 10 clusters and prevents the production of copper oxides or Cu(i)-cysteine complexes, which are formed when Cu-5 is absent or at lower concentrations, respectively. These results indicate that small catalytic clusters could be involved, as precursor species before the reduction step, in the different methods developed for the synthesis of clusters. The visible light-absorbing Cu-approximate to 10 clusters, obtained by the cluster-catalysed method, display high photocatalytic activities for the decomposition of methyl orange with visible light.