The ligand effect of atomically precise gold nanoclusters in tailoring catalytic properties

It is well known that surface ligands are vital layers for ligand-protected Au nanoclusters. Improving the knowledge of the relationship between ligands and catalytic properties is a forefront research topic for Au nanoclusters. Enormous effort has been devoted to realizing the ligand effect in synthesis, including well-controlled sizes and shapes as well as structural transformation. However, the crucial function of surface ligands has not been addressed yet in catalytic reactions. Here, this review mainly aims to summarize the recent progress concerning the influence of surface ligand layers on catalytic activity and selectivity, based on the various types of ligand protected Au nanoclusters. Besides, the potential challenges and opportunities of Au nanoclusters are indicated, mainly in terms of surface ligands to guide the improvement of catalytic performances.