Reversible interconversion in atomically precise metal nanoclusters

Abstract

Reversible interconversion in atomically precise metal nanoclusters (MNCs) holds utmost significance in constructing new functional materials for multi-faceted applications and understanding the fundamental mechanism of structural evolution. Over the last decade, investigations on irreversible structural transformation have flourished, and thereby most of the reviews provide a discussion of their recent progress and future possibilities. However, a comprehensive discussion on reversible structural transformation has not been precisely reported in the literature, which instigated us to accumulate a discussion on this topic. In this discussion, we attempt to cover the recent advances in reversible structural transformation, categorized them based on the external parameters, and opened an avenue for future exploration. We sequentially discuss ligand, solvent, temperature, and photo-induced structural transformation with suitable literature reports, with a special emphasis on photo-induced interconversion. We include an elaborate discussion of our interesting investigation into particle-assisted photo-induced reversible interconversion, which is introduced as particle-assisted reversible interconversion (PARI). This document undoubtedly discloses an emerging aspect of MNCs and their future possibilities, benefitting a wider readership.