Crystallographic insights into structural isomerism of recent atomically precise metal nanoclusters

Abstract

This review focuses on isomerism in metal nanoclusters, where clusters with identical or closely related compositions adopt distinct atomic arrangements. We classify these into structural isomers, which share the same metal and ligand formula, and quasi-isomers, which retain metal nuclearity and ligand count but differ in ligand identity. Recent examples involving gold, silver, copper, and heterometallic clusters are discussed, highlighting how minor structural variations influence symmetry, electronic properties, and functionality.