The structural evolution and electronic properties of Au_n~- clusters have been studied using density functional theory at the PW91 / TZVPP level. The results indicate that all the ground state clusters possess a planar configuration and its growth patterns display an odd- even effect,namely,combined with an Au atom on the high symmetry direction,the Au_n~- cluster with odd n can form the Au_(n+1)~- cluster by a small relaxation. Simultaneously,the calculated ionization potential based on the ground state i...