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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Synthesis of Near-Infrared Emitting Gold Nanoclusters for Biological Applications

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Published on: March 22, 2020

Molecular-Level Decoding of Electron Transfer Dynamics in Metal Nanoclusters.

Kai-Yuan Huang¹, Qiaofeng Yao², Hao-Hua Deng¹

¹Higher Educational Key Laboratory for Nano Biomedical Technology of Fujian Province, Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, China.

Accounts of Chemical Research

|February 11, 2026

Summary

Electron transfer (ET) in metal nanoclusters (NCs) follows Marcus theory, enabling precise control over reaction rates. Molecular engineering strategies fine-tune ET kinetics for applications in catalysis and sensing.

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Area of Science:

Nanoscale Science and Technology
Physical Chemistry
Materials Science

Background:

Understanding electron transfer (ET) in metal nanoclusters (NCs) is crucial for their application in chemistry, biology, and energy.
Metal NCs bridge the gap between atoms and nanoparticles, exhibiting unique quantum confinement effects influencing ET.
Investigating ET in metal NCs connects molecular ET theories with those for larger nanoparticles.

Purpose of the Study:

To summarize systematic studies on ET processes in metal NCs.
To demonstrate the applicability of Marcus theory to metal NC ET dynamics.
To propose molecular engineering strategies for regulating ET kinetics in metal NC systems.

Main Methods:

Systematic experimental and theoretical studies of electron transfer in metal nanoclusters.
Application of Marcus theory to describe the rate dependence on driving force.
Development of molecular engineering strategies for controlling ET kinetics.

Main Results:

Metal NC ET dynamics are accurately described by Marcus theory, showing a bell-shaped rate dependence on driving force.
Three strategies (Rehm-Weller/Marcus regime switching, parameter tuning, proton-coupled ET) are proposed for ET regulation.
Unique 'molecule-like' ET in NCs, due to discrete energy levels, enables faster and more programmable proton-coupled ET.

Conclusions:

Metal NCs exhibit distinct ET behaviors, facilitating faster and more controlled charge transfer processes.
Mechanistic insights into NC ET kinetics can advance applications in luminophores, sensing, and catalysis (OER, CO2RR).
This work promotes quantitative structure-ET-application correlations and refines nanoscale charge transfer theories for rational NC design.