High photoluminescence from self-assembled Ag2Cl2(dppe)2 clusters through metallophilic interactions

Recent developments in the investigation of driving forces for transforming coinage metal nanoclusters

Metal nanoclusters serve as an emerging class of modular nanomaterials. The transformation of metal nanoclusters has been fully reflected in their studies from every aspect, including the structural evolution analysis, physicochemical property regulation, and practical application promotion. In this review, we highlight the driving forces for transforming atomically precise metal nanoclusters and summarize the related transforming principles and fundamentals. Several driving forces for transforming nanoclusters are meticulously reviewed herein: ligand-exchange-induced transformations, metal-exchange-induced transformations, intercluster reactions, photochemical transformations, oxidation/reduction-induced transformations, and other factors (intrinsic instability, pH, temperature, and metal salts) triggering transformations. The exploitation of transforming principles to customize the preparations, structures, physicochemical properties, and practical applications of metal nanoclusters is also disclosed. At the end of this review, we provide our perspectives and highlight the challenges remaining for future research on the transformation of metal nanoclusters. Our intended audience is the broader scientific community interested in metal nanoclusters, and we believe that this review will provide researchers with a comprehensive synthetic toolbox and insights on the research fundamentals needed to realize more cluster-based nanomaterials with customized compositions, structures, and properties.

Recent Advances and Prospects in Colloidal Nanomaterials

Colloidal nanomaterials of metals, metal oxides, and metal chalcogenides have attracted great attention in the past decade owing to their potential applications in optoelectronics, catalysis, and energy conversion. Introduction of various synthetic routes has resulted in diverse colloidal nanostructured materials with well-controlled size, shape, and composition, enabling the systematic study of their intriguing physicochemical, optoelectronic, and chemical properties. Furthermore, developments in the instrumentation have offered valuable insights into the nucleation and growth mechanism of these nanomaterials, which are crucial in designing prospective materials with desired properties. In this perspective, recent advances in the colloidal synthesis and mechanism studies of nanomaterials of metal chalcogenides, metals, and metal oxides are discussed. In addition, challenges in the characterization and future direction of the colloidal nanomaterials are provided.