Catalysts are ubiquitous, whether in the form of an
enzyme in the body that digests food or the catalytic converter in
the car that breaks down pollutants. Catalysts play an important
role in making chemical reactions more efficient. Recently,
atomically precise metal nanoclusters (NCs) that can accelerate
various thermal, electrochemical, and photochemical reactions have
been used to design useful catalysts. These NCs are tiny particles
(less than 2 nanometers) whose properties can be modified by
changing their atomic composition. Metal NCs have received
considerable attention, with scientists trying to find various ways
of synthesizing NCs with unique functions.
