This review details methods used to activate Au and Ag clusters for catalysis and routes that have been effective in mitigating sintering.

Atomically-precise silver clusters can be activated for styrene oxidation reactions using mild calcination conditions.

Au25L18 clusters have been encapsulated in silica spheres to create sinter-resistant Au@SiO2 materials which are active and recyclable epoxidation catalysts.

Palladium nanocubes and their transformation to concave nanocubes and nanoflowers are realised by a seed mediated procedure in aqueous medium and at room temperature using cationic surfactants. The concave nanocubes and nanoflowers were found to be enclosed by high index facets. The under co-ordinated atoms present on the high index facets make these nanostructures chemically more active towards Suzuki coupling and Heck coupling reactions compared to the conventional nanocubes and spherical nanoparticles of similar size.