The Reinforcing Effect of Cluster Materials in the Combustion of Hydrocarbon Fuels

Hydrocarbon fuels are a vital component of the global energy supply, owing to their excellent energy density and high burnability. It has been demonstrated that the addition of atomically precise cluster materials to hydrocarbon fuels as additives is a promising approach to achieve breakthroughs in improving their combustion performance. Though cluster materials show great potential in boosting combustion performance, their large-scale synthesis, insufficient thermochemical stability, agglomeration and deactivation have constrained their practical applications. Hence, researchers have adopted strategies such as ligand-engineered stabilization, carrier-confined encapsulation, in situ synthesis and surface functionalization to enhance their stability and dispersion in complex combustion environments. Meanwhile, studies on the compatibility of cluster materials with hydrocarbon fuels have also played a crucial role in evaluating the engineering feasibility of cluster materials, including their dissolution and dispersion behavior, interfacial interactions, and long-term storage stability. With regard to performance enhancement, it has been demonstrated through numerous studies that the addition of clusters can have a massive impact on combustion efficiency, thermal stability and ignition performance. This article reviews the ways cluster materials can improve combustion performance via molecular design and synergistic effects, extending the existing research.