The Au144(SCH3)60 structural model obtained through the use of first-principles DFT optimization. Three orientations are shown, viewed along the following symmetry axes: (a) 5-fold axis, (b) 3-fold axis, and (c) 2-fold axis. The color scheme is that used in Fig. 1: inner core 54 Au atoms (orange), 60-atom outer shell (brown), 30 gold ad-atoms (yellow), and 60 sulfur atoms (red). The carbon and hydrogen atoms of the thiolate-tail are shown as small gray and blue spheres, respectively.