Laser/Plasma Assisted Synthesis of Gold-Iron Nanoparticles and Laser Desorption Ionisation for
                     Generation of Au[m]Fe[n]^+/- (m = 1-35; n = 1-3) Clusters


Ravi Madhukar Mawale^1, Mayuri Vilas Ausekar^1, David Pavliňák^2, Oleksandr Galmiz^2, Pavel
Kubáček^1, Josef Havel^1,2,3,

^1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kampus Bohunice, Kamenice 5/A14,
625 00 Brno, Czech Republic, e-mail: 431548@mail.muni.cz

^2Department of Physical Electronics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37
Brno, Czech Republic, e-mail: havel@chemi.muni.cz

^3CEPLANT, R&D Center for Low-cost Plasma and Nanotechnology Surface Modifications, Masaryk
University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic


Gold-iron or gold-iron oxide nano-particles (NPs) are of particular importance because of their bio
diagnostic and medicinal applications. Applying either plasma (8.3 kHz) or electrochemically we
produced a kind of Au-Fe nano-composite, in case of plasma a giant gold nano-flowers (1-2 000 nm).
The product was analysed by EDX and SEM. Mass spectrometry with LDI (laser 337 nm) yields single
charged Au[m]Fe[n]^± (m = 1-35; n = 1-3) clusters. Structures of clusters in neutral and
mono-charged forms were designed by DFT calculations (ADF; scalar relativistic ZORA geometry
optimization). The structures in local minima of potential energy surface always have Fe atoms
coordinated to several Au atoms (most often to 4 to 6) and possess few odd electrons (4 to 9). The
distances of a Fe nucleus from adjacent Au nuclei lie in the interval 2.5 – 2.7 Å.  [INS: :INS]


                                            TNT_Mawale


References:


1] Ravi Madhukar Mawale, Mayuri Vilas Ausekar, David Pavliňák, Oleksandr Galmiz, Pavel Kubáček,
Josef Havel, Laser Desorption Ionization Quadrupole Ion Trap Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry of
Au[m]Fe[n]+/- Clusters Generated from Gold-Iron Nanoparticles and their Giant Nanoflowers.
Electrochemical and/or Plasma Assisted Synthesis. J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. (2016).


Acknowledgements:


This project was funded with support from the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (Project
No.13-05082S). This research was also supported by the project R&D Centre for Low-Cost Plasma and
Nanotechnology Surface Modifications CZ.1.05/2.1.00/03.0086 funding by the European Regional
Development Fund. This research has been supported by the project LO1411 (NPU I) funded by Ministry
of Education Youth and Sports of Czech Republic.