币金属纳米团簇是当前无机化学、物理化学、材料科学等多学科交叉领域的研究前沿与热点。它是一类由金、银、铜等币金属原子组成的直径小于3 nm的超小纳米粒子，一般具有“金属核-有机金属配合物壳”的核-壳结构特征。其精准到原子的结构特征使币金属纳米团簇成为关联金属材料的微观结构、宏观性质及其实际应用性能的理想模型，对在原子层级上理解金属材料结构和性质转化的规律具有重大意义。自2011年以来，姚桥峰教授一直致力于亲水性币金属纳米团簇的精准合成和可控自组装研究，着力于团簇多级结构的精准构筑并在分子和原子层级上解析其反应机理。姚桥峰教授的主要学术成果可以从以下三个方面加以归纳：
1）针对亲水性纳米团簇在其生长过程中结构和组成演化规律尚不明晰的难题，发展了基于电喷雾电离质谱/串联质谱的反应追踪方法，在分子和原子层级上揭示了亲水性Au纳米团簇的生长机理。
2）针对亲水性纳米团簇的多级结构难以在原子层级上独立、精准调控的难点，开发了“表面有机金属配合物交换”，表面修饰诱导的核结构转化等方法，系统地实现了对亲水性Au/Ag纳米团簇尺寸、组成、原子堆积结构和表面性质的精准调控。
3）针对亲水性纳米团簇在自组装中行为模式不明晰，形貌、有序度以及堆积对称性难以控制等研究难点，开发了可控表面改性诱导的定向自组装策略，系统地实现了亲水性Au/Ag纳米团簇一维到三维可控自组装。
姚桥峰教授共发表论文100余篇、专著章节2章。以第一/共一/共同通讯作者身份发表论文29篇（3篇ESI高被引论文），包括Nat. Chem. 1篇（一作）、Nat. Rev. Mater. 1篇（一作）、J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2篇（一作1篇和共同通讯1篇）、Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 3篇（一作1篇和共同通讯2篇）、Nat. Commun. 4篇（一作3篇和共同通讯1篇）、Adv. Mater. 2篇（一作1篇和共同通讯1篇）、Acc. Chem. Res. 1篇（一作）。姚桥峰教授的研究成果获得了领域内同行的关注：论文总被引10429次，H因子59。姚桥峰教授还入选了2022年度国家自然科学基金优秀青年基金项目（海外），获得了由国家留学基金委颁发的2021年度国家优秀自费留学生奖学金（b类，全球共50名），并获推荐参加（新加坡国立大学共10人）全球青年科学家峰会（Global Young Scientists Summit 2018）。
论文与著作：
完整论文清单见Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=2zSw9hQAAAAJ&hl=en
*corresponding authorship, #jointed first authorship
2024
36.Yao, Q.; Zhu, M.; Yang, Z.; Song, X.; Yuan, X.; Zhang, Z.; Hu, W.*; Xie, J.* Molecule-like synthesis of ligand-protected metal nanoclusters. Nature Reviews Materials 2024, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-024-00741-7. (Full-text)
35.Qian,J.; Yang, Z.; Lyu, J.; Yao, Q.*; Xie, J.* Molecular Interactions in Atomically Precise Metal Nanoclusters. Precision Chemistry 2024, DOI: 10.110.1021/prechem.4c00044. (Full-text)
34.Mu, C.; Wang, B.; Yao, Q.*; He, Qian.*; Xie, J.* Composition-dependent catalytic performance of AuxAg25−x alloy nanoclusters for oxygen reduction reaction. Nano Research 2024, DOI: 10.1007/s12274-024-6875-z. (Full-text)
33. Liu, Z.; Chen, J.; Li, B.; Jiang, D.*; Wang, L.*; Yao, Q.*; Xie, J.* Enzyme-Inspired Ligand Engineering of Gold Nanoclusters for Electrocatalytic Microenvironment Manipulation. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2024, 146, 17, 11773-11781. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00019. (Full-text)
32. Lin, H.; Song, X.*; Chai, O. J. H.; Yao, Q.*; Yang, H.*; Xie, J.* Photoluminescent Characterization of Metal Nanoclusters: Basic Parameters, Methods, and Applications. Advanced Materials 2024, DOI: 10.1002/adma.202401002 (Full-text)
31. Pan, X.; Yao, Y.; Zhang, M.; Yuan, X.; Yao, Q.*; Hu, W. Enzyme-mimic Catalytic Activities and Biomedical Applications of Noble Metal Nanoclusters. Nanoscale 2024, 16, 8196-8215. DOI: 10.1039/D4NR00282B. (Full-text)
30. Lin, H.; Cao, Y.*; Yao, Q.; Chen, T.; Shan, H.; Xie, J.* The Synthesis of Fluorescent Nanoclusters Based on the Etching Reaction. Nano Research 2024, DOI: 10.1007/s12274-023-6391-6. (Full-text)
29. Zhou, C.; Wang, M.; Yao, Q.; Zhou, Y.; Hou, C.; Xia, J.; Wang, Z.*; Chen, J.*; Xie, J.* Ligand-dependent Aggregation-enhanced Photoacoustic of Atomically Precise Metal Nanocluster. Aggregate 2024, 5, e401. (Full-text)
2023
28. Yao, Q.#; Liu, L.#; Malola, S.#; Ge, M.; Xu, H.; Wu, Z.; Chen, T.; Cao, Y.; Matus, M. F.; Pihlajamäki, A.; Han, Y.*; Häkkinen*, H.; Xie, J.* Supercrystal Engineering of Atomically Precise Gold Nanoparticles Promoted by Surface Dynamics. Nature Chemistry 2023, 15, 230-239. (Sciencenet News) (Full-text)
27. Liu, Z.; Tan, H.; Li, B.; Hu, Z.; Jiang, D.-e.; Yao, Q.*; Wang, L.*; Xie, J.* Ligand Effect on Switching the Rate-Determining Step of Water Oxidation in Atomically Precise Metal Nanoclusters. Nature Communications 2023, 3374.(Full-text)
26. Zhong, Y.#; Zhang, J.#; Li, T.; Xu, W.; Yao, Q.; Lu, M.; Bai, X.; Wu, Z.*; Xie, J.*; Zhang, Y.* Suppression of Kernel Vibrations by Layer-by-layer Ligand Engineering Boosts Photoluminescence Efficiency of Gold Nanoclusters. Nature Communications 2023, 14, 658. (Full-text)
25. Shan, H.; Shi, J.*; Chen, T.; Cao, Y.; Yao, Q.; An, H.; Yang, Z.; Wu, Z.; Jiang, Z.*; Xie, J.* Modulating Catalytic Activity and Stability of Atomically Precise Gold Nanoclusters as Peroxidase Mimics via Ligand Engineering. ACS Nano 2023, 17, 2368-2377. (Full-text)
24. Yang, G.; Mu, X.; Pan, X.; Tang, Y.; Yao, Q.; Wang, Y.; Jiang, F.; Du, F.; Xie, J.*; Zhou, X.*; Yuan, X* Ligand Engineering of Au44 Nanoclusters for NIR-II Luminescent and Photoacoustic Imaging-Guided Cancer Photothermal Therapy. Chemical Science 2023, 14, 4308-4318. (Full-text)
2022 and Prior (Selected)
23. Zhu, M.; Yao, Q.*; Liu, Z.; Zhang, B.; Lin, Y.; Liu, J.; Long, M.; Xie, J.* Surface Engineering Assisted Size and Structure Modulation of Gold Nanoclusters by Ionic Liquid Cations. Angewandte Chemie – International Edition 2022, 61, e202115647. (WileyChem News) (Full-text)
22. Lin, Y.; Cao, Y.; Yao, Q.*; Xie, J.* Revealing the Composition-Dependent Structural Evolution Fundamentals of Bimetallic Nanoparticles through an Inter-Particle Alloying Reaction. Chemical Science 2022, 13, 4598-4607. (Full-text)
21. Zhu, M.; Yao, Q.*; Liu, Z.; Liu, J.; Liu, M.; Long, M.; Xie, J.*, Aggregation-Induced Emission of Gold Nanoclusters by Ionic Liquids for White Light-Emitting Diode and Multiple-Ion Probe Applications. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 2022, 13, 7722-7730. (Full-text)
20. Yao, Q.; Zhang, Q.; Xie, J.* Atom-Precision Engineering Chemistry of Noble Metal Nanoparticles. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 2022, 61, 7594-7612. (Full-text)
19. Yao, Q.; Wu, Z.; Liu, Z.; Lin, Y.; Yuan, X.; Xie, J.*, Molecular Reactivity of Thiolate-Protected Noble Metal Nanoclusters: Synthesis, Self-Assembly, and Applications. Chemical Science 2021, 12, 99-127. (Full-text)
18. Zhu, H.; Yuan, X.*; Yao, Q.*; Xie, J.*, Shining Photocatalysis by Gold-Based Nanomaterials. Nano Energy 2021, 88, 106306. (Full-text)
17. Xiao, Y.; Wu, Z.; Yao, Q.*; Xie, J.*, Luminescent Metal Nanoclusters: Biosensing Strategies and Bioimaging Applications. Aggregate 2021, 2, 114-132. (Full-text)
16. Yao, Q.; Xie, J.* Pasteur-Like Separation of Silver Nanocluster Racemates by Conglomerate Crystallization. ACS Central Science 2020, 6, 1862-1865. (Full-text)
15. Wang, Z.; Fang, Y.; Zhou, X.; Li, Z.; Zhu, H.; Du, F.; Yuan, X.*; Yao, Q.*; Xie, J.*, Embedding Ultrasmall Ag Nanoclusters in Luria-Bertani Extract Via Light Irradiation for Enhanced Antibacterial Activity. Nano Research 2020, 13, 203-208. (Full-text)
14. Wu, Z; Du, Y.; Liu, J.; Yao, Q.*; Chen, T.; Cao, Y.; Zhang, H.; Xie, J.* Aurophilic Interactions in the Self-Assembly of Gold Nanoclusters into Nanoribbons with Enhanced Luminescence. Angewandte Chemie – International Edition 2019, 58, 8139-8144. (X-Mol News) (Full-text)
13. Dou, X.; Chen, X.; Zhu, H.; Liu, Y.; Chen, D.; Yuan, X.*; Yao, Q.*; Xie, J.*, Water-Soluble Metal Nanoclusters: Recent Advances in Molecular-Level Exploration and Biomedical Applications. Dalton Transactions 2019, 48, 10385-10392. (Full-text)
12. Yao, Q.; Yuan, X.; Chen, T.; Leong, D. T.; Xie, J.* Engineering Functional Metal Materials at the Atomic Level. Advanced Materials 2018, 30, 1802751. (Cailiaoniu News) (Full-text)
11. Yao, Q.; Chen, T.; Yuan, X.; Xie, J.* Toward Total Synthesis of Thiolate-Protected Metal Nanoclusters. Accounts of Chemical Research 2018, 51, 1338. (Cailiaoniu News) (Full-text)
10. Yao, Q.; Fung, V.; Sun, C.; Huang, S.; Chen, T.; Yu, Y.; Jiang, D.-e.; Lee, J. Y.; Xie, J.* Revealing Isoelectronic Size Conversion Dynamics of Metal Nanoclusters by a Noncrystallization Approach. Nature Communications 2018, 9, 1979.(Cailiaoniu News) (Full-text)
9. Yao, Q.#; Feng, Y.#; Fung, V.; Yu, Y.; Jiang, D.-e.*; Yang, J.*; Xie, J.* Precise Control of Alloying Sites of Bimetallic Nanoclusters via Surface Motif Exchange Reaction. Nature Communications 2017, 8, 1555. (Sohu News) (Full-text)
8. Yao, Q.#; Yuan, X.#; Fung, V.; Yu, Y.; Leong, D. T.; Jiang, D.-e.; Xie, J.* Understanding Seed-Mediated Growth of Gold Nanoclusters at Molecular Level. Nature Communications 2017, 8, 927. (Sohu News) (Full-text)
7. Goswami, N.; Yao, Q.*; Chen, T.; Xie, J.* Mechanistic Exploration and Controlled Synthesis of Precise Thiolate-Gold Nanoclusters. Coordination Chemistry Reviews 2016, 329, 1-15. (Full-text)
6. Yu, Y.; Yao, Q.*; Chen, T.; Lim, G. X.; Xie, J.*, The Innermost Three Gold Atoms Are Indispensable to Maintain the Structure of the Au18(SR)14 Cluster. Journal of Physical Chemistry C 2016, 120, 22096-22102. (Full-text)
5. Yao, Q.; Yuan, X.; Yu, Y.; Yu, Y.; Xie, J.*; Lee, J. Y.* Introducing Amphiphilicity to Noble Metal Nanoclusters via Phase-Transfer Driven Ion-Pairing Reaction. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2015, 137, 2128-2136. (Full-text)
4. Yao, Q.; Yu, Y.; Yuan, X.; Yu, Y.; Zhao, D.; Xie, J.*; Lee, J. Y.* Counterion-Assisted Shaping of Nanocluster Supracrystals. Angewandte Chemie – International Edition 2015, 54, 184-189.(Full-text)
3. Yao, Q.; Luo, Z.; Yuan, X.; Yu, Y.; Zhang, C.; Xie, J.*; Lee, J. Y.*, Assembly of Nanoions via Electrostatic Interactions: Ion-Like Behavior of Charged Noble Metal Nanoclusters. Scientific Reports 2014, 4, 3848. (Full-text)
2. Yao, Q.; Yu, Y.; Yuan, X.; Yu, Y.; Xie, J.*; Lee, J. Y.*, Two-Phase Synthesis of Small Thiolate-Protected Au15 and Au18 Nanoclusters. Small 2013, 9, 2696-2701. (Full-text)
1. Yu, Y.#; Yao, Q.#; Luo, Z.; Yuan, X.; Lee, J. Y.*; Xie, J.*, Precursor Engineering and Controlled Conversion for the Synthesis of Monodisperse Thiolate-Protected Metal Nanoclusters. Nanoscale 2013, 5, 4606-4620. (Full-text)
Book Chapters
1. Wu, Z.; Yao, Q.; Xie, J.* AIE-Type Luminescent Metal Nanoclusters. Wiley Book “Handbook of Aggregation-Induced-Emission” 2022, pp 411-441.
2. Yuan, X.#; Yao, Q.#; Yu, Y. #; Luo, Z. #; Xie, J.*, Novel Synthetic Strategies for Thiolate-Protected Au and Ag Nanoclusters: Towards Atomic Precision and Strong Luminescence. In RSC Book "Functional Nanometer-Sized Clusters of Transition Metals: Synthesis, Properties and Applications” 2014, pp 131-167.
