Atomically precise cluster catalysis towards quantum controlled catalysts

• Published in: Science and technology of advanced materials Vol. 15; no. 6; pp. 063501 - 12
• Main Author: Watanabe, Yoshihide
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01.12.2014; IOP Publishing; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Atomic properties; Atomic structure; atomically precise; Catalysis; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; cluster; Clusters; deposited; Electron states; Electronic structure; Review; size-selected; Substrates; supported; surface; cluster; surface; deposited; catalysis; size-selected; atomically precise; supported
• ISSN: 1468-6996; 1878-5514
• DOI: 10.1088/1468-6996/15/6/063501

Catalysis of atomically precise clusters supported on a substrate is reviewed in relation to the type of reactions. The catalytic activity of supported clusters has generally been discussed in terms of electronic structure. Several lines of evidence have indicated that the electronic structure of clusters and the geometry of clusters on a support, including the accompanying cluster-support interaction, are strongly correlated with catalytic activity. The electronic states of small clusters would be easily affected by cluster-support interactions. Several studies have suggested that it is possible to tune the electronic structure through atomic control of the cluster size. It is promising to tune not only the number of cluster atoms, but also the hybridization between the electronic states of the adsorbed reactant molecules and clusters in order to realize a quantum-controlled catalyst.