Chemical Synthesis of ~1 nm Multilevel Capacitor‐like Particles with Atomic Precision

Abstract Can the chemically synthesized nanoparticles act as nanodevices or nanomachines? Herein, we demonstrated this feasibility. A novel nanocluster (ultrasmall nanoparticle) [Au 44 Cd 20 ( m ‐MBT) 40 ][N(C 8 H 17 ) 4 ] 2 (Au 44 Cd 20 in short, m ‐MBTH: m ‐methylbenzenethiol) obtained via developing a synthesis method has a cannula‐like structure of the outer shell and an internal sleeve, revealed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Natural population analysis (NPA) charge calculations, charge carrier transport of Au 44 Cd 20 (during which an intra‐nanocluster anti‐galvanic reaction was observed) after unneutral charging using NaBH 4 as well as voltammetry proved the capacitor‐like character of Au 44 Cd 20 . The subsidiary capacitor‐like character of the outer shell of Au 44 Cd 20 was further probed via NPA charge calculations and electrocatalytic reduction of CO 2 to CO. Thus, this study predicts a new era of engineering metal nanoparticles for realizing atomically precise ultrasmall nanodevices and nanomachines.