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Sub-nanometer Metal clusters have special physical and chemical properties, significantly different from those of nanoparticles. However, there is a major concern about their thermal stability and susceptibility to oxidation. In situ X-ray Absorption spectroscopy and Near Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy results reveal that supported Cu5 clusters are resistant to irreversible oxidation at least up to 773 K, even in the presence of 0.15 mbar of oxygen. These experimental findings can be formally described by a theoretical model which combines dispersion-corrected DFT and first principles thermochemistry revealing that most of the adsorbed O2 molecules are transformed into superoxo and peroxo species by an interplay of collective charge transfer within the network of Cu atoms and large amplitude "breathing" motions. A chemical phase diagram for Cu oxidation state of the Cu5-oxygen system is presented, clearly different from the already known bulk and nano-structured chemistry of Cu.

Bare clusters of five Cu atoms, synthesized electrochemically, display remarkable oxidation stability on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. They exhibit reversible O2 adsorption, transitioning between various Cu oxidation states with changes in temperature and O2 pressure. In-situ XPS and XANES spectroscopy experiments, along with theoretical characterizations of Cu5–(O2)n complexes, provide direct evidence of the Cu5 clusters’ O2 stability

Low atomicity clusters present properties dependent on the size, due to the quantum confinement, with well-defined electronic structures and high stability. Here it is shown that Ag-5 clusters catalyze the complete oxidation of sulfur to S+6. Ag-5 catalytic activity increases with different oxidant species in the order O-2 MUCH LESS-THAN H2O2 < OH center dot. Selective oxidation of thiols on the cysteine residues of glutathione and thioredoxin is the primary mechanism human cells have to maintain redox homeostasis. Contingent upon oxidant concentration, Ag-5 catalyzes the irreversible oxidation of glutathione and thioredoxin, triggering apoptosis. Modification of the intracellular environment to a more oxidized state to mimic conditions within cancer cells through the expression of an activated oncogene (HRAS(G12V)) or through ARID1A mutation, sensitizes cells to Ag-5 mediated apoptosis. While cancers evolve to evade treatments designed to target pathways or genetic mutations that drive them, they cannot evade a treatment that takes advantage of aberrant redox homeostasis, which is essential for tumor progression and metastasis. Ag-5 has antitumor activity in mice with orthotopic lung tumors reducing primary tumor size, and the burden of affected lymphatic nodes. The findings suggest the unique intracellular redox chemistry of Ag-5 may lead to new redox-based approaches to cancer therapy.

If the ability of Cu5 atomic quantum clusters (AQCs) to create states within the bulk gap of TiO2 persists in the presence of oxygen, then the absorption spectrum of the AQC-TiO2 complex could be matched to the peak of the solar spectrum, thereby enhancing its photocatalytic activity under ambient conditions. Here we demonstrate that this is indeed the case, by examining the electronic structure of Cu5 AQCs adsorbed on a rutile (110) TiO2 surface in the presence of oxygen. We find that adsorbed oxygen changes the most stable AQC isomer from a 2-dimensional trapezoidal structure to a 3-dimensional bipyramidal structure. Furthermore, the bipyramidal AQC creates two ferromagnetically coupled polarons in the TiO2. In contrast, the trapezoidal AQC only creates a single polaron. In the presence of oxygen, these polaronic states associated with the bare cluster are joined by further mid-gap energy levels, formed from hybrid states located on copper and oxygen atoms. Dissociated oxygen-dimer adsorption on Cu5 generally leads to significant deformation of the whole cluster, which accounts for the dramatic drop of the total energy compared to molecular oxygen dimer adsorption. The ability of Cu5 AQCs to create states within the bulk gap of TiO2 under ambient conditions demonstrates that the absorption spectrum of the AQC-TiO2 complex is more closely matched to the peak of the solar spectrum, than either the AQC or TiO2 alone.

The decoration of semiconductors with subnanometer-sized clusters of metal atoms can have a strong impact on the optical properties of the support. The changes induced differ greatly from effects known for their well-studied, metallic counterparts in the nanometer range. In this work, we study the deposition of Cu5 clusters on a TiO2 surface and investigate their influence on the photon-absorption properties of TiO2 nanoparticles via the computational modeling of a decorated rutile TiO2 (110) surface. Our findings are further supported by selected experiments using diffuse reflectance and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The Cu5 cluster donates an electron to TiO2, leading to the formation of a small polaron Ti3+ 3d1 state and depopulation of Cu(3d) orbitals, successfully explaining the absorption spectroscopy measurements at the K-edge of copper. A monolayer of highly stable and well fixated Cu5 clusters is formed, which not only enhances the overall absorption, but also extends the absorption profile into the visible region of the solar spectrum via direct photo-induced electron transfer and formation of a charge-separated state.

An ab initio study of the interaction of O2 the most abundant radical and oxidant species in the atmosphere, with the Cu5 cluster, a new generation atomic metal catalyst, is presented. The open-shell nature of the reactant species is properly accounted for using multi-reference perturbation theory, allowing to investigate the experimentally confirmed resistivity of Cu5 clusters towards oxidation. Approximate reaction pathways for the transition from physisorption to chemisorption are calculated for the interaction of O2 with quasi-iso-energetic trapezoidal planar and trigonal bipyramidal structures. Within the multi-reference approach, the transition barrier for O2 activation can be interpreted as an avoided crossing between adiabatic states (neutral and ionic), which provides new insights into the charge-transfer process and gives better estimates for this hard to localize and therefore often neglected first intermediate state. For Cu5 arranged in a bipyramidal structure, the O-O bond cleavage is confirmed as the rate-determining step. However, for planar Cu5, the high energy barrier for O2 activation, related to a very pronounced avoided crossing when going from physisorption to chemisorption, determines the reactivity in this case.

Subnanometer-sized metal clusters often feature a molecule-like electronic structure, which makes their physical and chemical properties significantly different from those of nanoparticles and bulk material. Considering potential applications, there is a major concern about their thermal stability and susceptibility towards oxidation. Cu clusters of only 5 atoms (Cu5 clusters) are first synthesized in high concentration using a new-generation wet chemical method. Next, it is shown that, contrary to what is currently assumed, Cu5 clusters display nobility, beyond resistance to irreversible oxidation, at a broad range of temperatures and oxygen pressures. The outstanding nobility arises from an unusual reversible oxidation which is observed by in situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy on Cu5 clusters deposited onto highly oriented pyrolitic graphite at different oxygen pressures and up to 773 K. This atypical property is explained by a theoretical approach combining different state-of-the-art first principles theories. It reveals the essential role of collective quantum effects in the physical mechanism responsible for the nobility of Cu5 clusters, encompassing a structural ‘breathing’ through concerted Cu–Cu elongations/contractions upon O2 uptake/release, and collective charge transfer as well. A predictive phase diagram of their reversible oxidation states is also delivered, agreeing with the experimental observations. The collective quantum effects responsible of the observed nobility are expected to be general in subanometer-sized metal clusters, pushing this new generation of materials to an upper level.

Using a combination of first-principles modelling, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy measurements, we explore the properties of Ag5–modified TiO2 surfaces. It is revealed theoretically and cofirmed experimentally a general electron polarization phenomenonassociatedwithsurfacepolaronsonTiO2. First, theAg5 clusterdonatesanelectron to TiO2, leading to the formation of polaronic Ti3+ 3d1 states on the rutile TiO2(110) surface. The analysis of polarization effects in the nearby electronic structure accompanying the polarons formation is confirmed with X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements at the Ti K-edge of TiO2 nanoparticles. Next, the UV-Vis optical absorption spectrum of the polaronic state is also computationally modelled and an enlargement of the polaron wavefunction is predicted. Moreover, we find an overall improvement of the UV-Vis optical response of the material through diffuse reflectance spectroscopy measurements. Finally, we predict that charge-transfer processes in the Ag5–TiO2 interface triggered by solar photons might allow for a photoinduced activation of CO2 by sunlight