Crystallographic Visualization of the Missing Structural Evolution of Copper Nanoclusters

rings act as versatile modular motifs, which encapsulate well-defined metal kernels to direct the structural evolution of all-thiolate-protected copper nanoclusters. Notably, structural isomerization is observed within this cluster series. By presenting the first experimental evidence from a homologous series of size-incremental copper-thiolate nanoclusters, this work provides atomic-level insights into how fundamental building motifs and surface coordination chemistry cooperatively direct the targeted synthesis of functional copper nanoclusters.