Fig. 2: Crystal structures of Ag40.
a, b View of nanowheel Ag40 in the a axis (a) and b axis (b) directions. The metal framework of the nanowheel has a diameter of ~1.8 nm and an inner diameter of ~1.1 nm, with a thickness of ~1.2 nm. c Metal skeleton with a C2 symmetry of Ag40, constructed by four [Ag9(QL-2-S)2(HQL-2-S)5(iPrS)4(CF3COO)]2+ PBBs (Ag9, pale yellow shadow) and four [Ag(iPrS)2(HQL-2-S)2]‒ junctions (pale blue shadow). In Ag9 PBBs, two types of thiol ligands with different steric hindrances exhibit a Janus distribution. d Distribution of small sterically hindered iPrS‒ ligands on the metal skeleton of Ag40, highlighting the four iPrS‒ ligands inside the nanowheel (blue) and a ring composed of 12 metal atoms in almost the same plane (dark blue). For clarity, four metals far from the center of the Ag12 ring are omitted. e Distribution of quinoline-2-thiol ligands with larger steric hindrance on the metal skeleton of Ag40, highlighting the ligands on different PBBs in different colors. Color codes: Ag green and dark blue, S yellow, C gray, N blue, F cyan, O red. All hydrogen atoms are omitted for clarity.
