Introducing regium bonds

Calculated surface electrostatic potentials of Cu9, Au9, Ag9, Ag11, Ag17 and Ag18 nanoparticles

Source: Royal Society of Chemistry

New bond describes interactions between group 11 nanoparticles and Lewis bases

Researchers in Sweden have described a new type of chemical bond and proposed that chemists call interactions between copper, silver and gold nanoparticle σ-holes and electron donors regium bonds. This concept could aid scientists developing new heterogeneous catalysts.