Fluorescent Metal Nanoclusters for Catalytic Applications

Metal nanoclusters (MNCs), typically composed of a few to a few hundred atoms, represent a new frontier in catalysis due to their ultrasmall size, discrete energy levels, and tunable surface chemistry. This chapter presents a detailed overview of the factors governing the catalytic performance of MNCs—including size, composition, ligand environment, kernel structure, and support interactions. Various synthesis strategies such as chemical, electrochemical, microwave-assisted, photochemical, solid-state, and sonochemical methods are discussed, emphasizing how synthesis conditions influence the structure and catalytic behavior of nanoclusters. Highlighted within are recent advances in catalytic applications of MNCs across oxidation, hydrogenation, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and enzymatic reactions, with an emphasis on mechanistic insights, structure–function relationships, and sustainability.