The structures of nanomaterials determine their individual properties and the suprastructures they can
form. Introducing anisotropic shapes and/or interaction sites to isotropic nanoparticles has been proposed to
extend the functionality and possible suprastructure motifs.
Because of symmetric anisotropy, Platonic solids with regular polygon faces are one of the most promising
nanoscale structures. Introduction of Platonic solid anisotropy to isotropic nanomaterials would expand the
functionality and range of possible suprastructure motifs.
Here, we demonstrate a novel strategy to obtain nano-Platonic solids through the face coordination of square
porphyrins on an inscribed Au sphere with adequate size. The face coordination of the multidentate porphyrin derivatives, with four acetylthio groups facing the same
direction, on the Au cluster encased the Au cluster in a Platonic hexahedron with six porphyrin faces. Transmission
electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and scanning tunnelling microscopy were used
to confirm the formation of the nano-Platonic hexahedron.