Self-assembly of Ru2(CO3)43− units and Cu2+ ions in the presence of halogen (Cl− or Br−) has resulted in two novel isomeric layered structural heterometallic carbonates, K2Li[Cu(H2O)2Ru2(CO3)4X2]·5H2O [X = Cl (1), Br (2)]. X-ray structural analysis reveals that complexes 1 and 2 contain a similar square-grid negative layer [Cu(H2O)2Ru2(CO3)4X2]n5n−, in which each Ru2(CO3)4X25− unit is linked by four Jahn–Teller distorted Cu(H2O)22+ ions in a cross mode and vice versa. The adjacent negative layers are connected by K–O, Li–O bonds, and hydrogen bonding, which led to the formation of a supramolecular 3D network structure. The two complexes show ferromagnetic coupling between the Ru2 dimer and the Cu2+ ion. Detailed magnetism measurement demonstrates that complex 1 exhibits soft magnetic ordering below 2.9 K coexistent with domain movement, and complex 2 shows long-range ferromagnetic ordering below 3.8 K.

Single crystalline gold nanoplates with micrometer-scale sizes that are tens of nanometers in thickness were synthesized by reducing HAuCl4 with the disodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Na2EDTA) in the presence of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in aqueous solution. The results indicated that CTAB plays an important role in the formation of single crystalline gold nanoplates. The application of the as-prepared nanoplates in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was investigated by using 4-aminothiophenol (PATP) as probe molecules. As a result of the sharp corners and edges in their shape, the resultant Au nanoplates exhibit excellent Raman enhancement ability. It was found that PATP can be oxidatively transformed into 4,4′-dimercaptoazobenzene on the surface of Au nanoplates during the SERS measurement.