Ultrasmall steel nanoclusters (NCs) with atomic precision possess a dimension vary between particular person atoms and plasmonic nanomaterials. These atomically exact supplies signify an rising class of nanocatalysts, providing distinctive alternatives to discover electrocatalytic properties and set up exact construction–property correlations on the atomic scale. Among the many massive variety of steel NCs which are stabilized by numerous ligands, thiolate-protected steel NCs are a very outstanding class for electrocatalytic investigations. Latest experimental and theoretical research have demonstrated the numerous potential of those supplies in enhancing numerous electrocatalytic reactions, together with hydrogen evolution, oxygen discount and CO2 discount reactions. Nevertheless, complete and in-depth discussions relating to their catalytic properties, significantly from a theoretical standpoint, are restricted and require additional explorations. On this evaluate, we concentrate on the latest progress in thiolate-protected steel NCs within the discipline of electrocatalysis. The influences of construction, ligand, doping and interface management on their electrocatalytic exercise/selectivity and the response mechanisms are mentioned. Importantly, the views we suggest relating to future analysis endeavors are anticipated to supply worthwhile references for subsequent investigations on this space.
