Exploring the structural evolution of Cu-thiolate nanoclusters and their property correlations.

Research on copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) is expanding rapidly due to their remarkable structural versatility and related tunable properties they exhibit. This fast-paced development creates a need for a comprehensive overview of the structural evolution of Cu NCs, especially regarding how different geometric configurations emerge from variations in the ligand choice. In light of this, this feature article focuses on the role of thiolate ligands in shaping the structural and electronic properties of Cu NCs, with a particular emphasis on how modifications of ligands influence the geometry of NCs.

Ligand-Dependent Intracluster Interactions in Electrochemical CO Reduction Using Cu Nanoclusters.

The electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CORR) has been extensively studied because it can be leveraged to directly convert CO into valuable hydrocarbons. Among the various catalysts, copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) exhibit high selectivity and efficiency for producing CORR products owing to their unique geometric/electronic structures. However, the influence of protective ligands on the CORR performance of Cu NCs remains unclear.