Recent advances in the synthesis and catalytic applications of atomically precise gold nanoclusters Check Access

This chapter summaries the recent advances in the synthesis and catalytic application of atomically precise Au_n(SR)_m nanoclusters. Structurally characterized nanoclusters can serve as new model catalysts for obtaining atomic/molecular level insights into the catalytic processes, including the precise size-dependent catalytic reactivity and how molecules are adsorbed and activated on the catalytic active sites, as well as the structural sensitivity of the catalyst to the reactions. While this area is still in its infancy, promising work has been reported and demonstrated the catalytic power of atomically precise nanoclusters. Such reactions include catalytic oxidation, chemoselective catalytic hydrogenation, catalytic semihydrogenation, etc. In addition, precisely doped nanoclusters provide a unique opportunity to tune the catalytic reactivity on a truly atom-by-atom basis. Overall, atomically precise nanoclusters hold great promise in the discovery of unique catalytic processes as well as in advancing the fundamental understanding of catalytic mechanisms at the atomic/molecular level.