Structural modification and performance regulation of atomically precise metal nanoclusters by phosphine

The ligand exchange-induced size/structural transformation (LEIST) reaction of metal nanoclusters gives us an effective way to understand the structural transition, broaden the synthesis methods, and enhance the relevant performance of metal nanoclusters. The structural features and unique bonding modes of phosphine ligands have been investigated to explore the "phosphine-LEIST" reaction, which shows advantages in metal nanoclusters' structural modification and property modulation. This review focuses on the phosphine ligand-induced structural transformations and the corresponding catalytic and optical performance regulation of metal nanoclusters. An introspective outlook is also presented at last concerning the design and synthesis of functional phosphine ligands for the further structural and performance evolution of atomically precise metal nanoclusters.