All-alkynyl-protected coinage metal nanoclusters: from synthesis to electrocatalytic CO₂reduction applications

Abstract

Atomically precise metal nanoclusters have been attracting considerable research interests in the last two decades, thanks to the quantum confinement effect and molecule-like properties. Such properties are significantly affected, if...

Atomically precise metal nanoclusters as catalysts for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction

“…Metal NCs have significant potential not only for use as various thermal catalysts 51,52,54,101 and photocatalysts 102–114 but also as electrocatalysts, 101,115–117 particularly in hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), 118–123 oxygen evolution reactions (OER), 120,124–126 oxygen reduction reactions (ORR), 58,120,127–134 and alcohol and HCOOH oxidation reactions. 135–137 In addition, the application of metal NCs as electrochemical CRR catalysts 1,55,57,113–115,138–150 has been widely studied. However, CRR activity is often evaluated on accidentally synthesized metal NCs, and there are not many examples of metal NCs synthesized based on standard design principles.…”

Parasitism in Metal Nanoclusters: A Case Study of (AuAg)25·(AuAg)27

“…Metal nanoclusters are of great ongoing interest due to their atomically precise structures and intriguing properties. − To date, a large number of nanoclusters have been controllably synthesized and structurally determined with the help of improved synthesis strategies and advanced characterization techniques. − Because of their well-defined compositions and highly ordered surface structures, nanoclusters have served as nanomodels for investigating the surface coordination chemistry of nanoparticles at the atomic level; − for example, thiolated metal nanoclusters have been employed to study the coordination modes of metal–sulfur interactions.…”

Recent advances in atomically precise metal nanoclusters for electrocatalytic applications

“…To date, many controllable preparation methods of NCs have been developed, such as the direct synthesis method, ligand exchange method, size-focusing method, intercluster reaction method, and so on. [10][11][12] Importantly, the clear surface structural information of NCs could be obtained by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Combining preparatory techniques and characterization of NCs therefore grants precise control of their composition, size, and structure at the atomic level, which is advantageous for comprehension of the structure and catalytic capability of ultra-small scale electrocatalysts.…”