Electronicd-band properties of gold nanoclusters grown on amorphous carbon

Abstract

The electronic d-band properties are important factors for the emerging catalytic activity of Au nanoclusters of sub-5-nm size. We analyzed the d-band properties of Au nanoclusters grown on amorphous carbon supports by photoelectron spectroscopy using synchrotron-radiation light coupled with high-resolution ion scattering spectrometry which enables us to estimate the size and shape of Au nanoclusters. The d-band width (W{sub d}), d-band center position (E{sub d}), and apparent 5d{sub 3/2}-d{sub 5/2} spin-orbit splitting (E{sub SO}) were determined as a function of a number of Au atoms per cluster (n{sub A}) and an average coordination number (n{sub C}) in a wide range (11<n{sub A}<1600). The W{sub d} and E{sub SO} values decrease steeply with decreasing n{sub A} below {approx}150 owing to band narrowing which is caused by hybridization of fewer wave functions of the valence electrons. However, E{sub d} shifts to the higher binding energy side with decreasing cluster size. The rapid movement of E{sub d} is attributed to the dynamic final-state effect, which results in higher binding energy shifts of core and valence states due to a positive hole created after photoelectron emission. We have estimated the contribution from the final-state effect and derived the approximated initial-state spectra. Modified data, however,more » still show a slight movement of the d-band center away from the Fermi level (E{sub F}) although the E{sub d} values for Au nanoclusters are closer to E{sub F} compared to the bulk value. This behavior is ascribed to the contraction of average Au-Au bond length with decreasing cluster size.« less