Bare gold clusters, i.e., clusters without stabilizing ligand shells can be synthesized and studied in vacuum using molecular beam techniques. Their structures have been experimentally studied using, e.g., anion photoelectron spectroscopy, far-infrared spectroscopy, as well as measurements of their ion mobility and electron diffraction studies in conjunction with quantum chemical calculations. The structures of such clusters differ strongly from those of the ligand-stabilized ones, indicating an pivotal influence of the chemical environment on the cluster structure. A notable example is Au which forms a perfect tetrahedron in which the Au atom packing closely resembles the atomic arrangement in the fcc bulk structure of metallic gold. Evidence has been presented for the existence of hollow golden cages with the partial formula  with n = 16 to 18.  These clusters, with diameter of 550 picometres, are generated by laser vaporization and characterized by photoelectron spectroscopy.