Preparation of Gold Cluster/Silica Nanocomposite Aerogel via Spontaneous Wet-Gel Formation

A nanocomposite of dodecanethiol-passivated gold clusters and a silica aerogel has been synthesized. The gold particles were efficiently absorbed in a silica wet gel and the particles were not flushed out during sc-CO2 drying. This can lead to a very simple and efficient way to the production of devices with high nonlinear optical properties or high catalytic activity. The Figure shows a photographic image of the composite aerogel.