Defect engineering within clusters to enhance cluster–support interaction boosts catalytic performance

Key Points

• This research aims to explore how introducing structural defects into clusters can improve their catalytic interactions with supports.
• Introduced structural defects into Au 40 clusters to test interaction enhancements with supports.
• Evaluated catalytic performance using model hydrogenation reactions against pristine Au 44 clusters.
• Defective Au 40 clusters showed a 5-fold increase in catalytic performance compared to pristine Au 44 clusters.