Properties and Emerging Applications of Ruthenium Nanoclusters

Abstract Ruthenium nanoclusters have shown great promise as multifunctional nanomaterials in broad scientific and technological sectors. Owing to their distinct characteristics arising from their nanoscale size and tunable electrical configuration, ruthenium nanoclusters are highly useful in photocatalysis, biomedical, electronics, sensors, and energy storage applications. Ruthenium nanoclusters are an effective catalyst with remarkable activity and selectivity. Contact with reactants is facilitated by their large surface area. Size-dependent electronic characteristics enable ruthenium nanoclusters to detect gases and biomolecules with high sensitivity and selectivity. The creation of sophisticated materials for electronic devices, such as transistors, memory chips, and conductive coatings, is facilitated by ruthenium nanoclusters. These materials’ distinct electronic structures enable more effective and flexible electronic systems, and consequently improve device performance. Because of their stability and biocompatibility, ruthenium nanoclusters are used in the biomedical industry as drug delivery systems and imaging agents. Finally, ruthenium nanoclusters have shown photocatalytic efficiency in light-driven chemical processes, and thus may aid in solar energy conversion and environmental cleanup. Their roles in sustainable uses of solar energy may make these materials valuable for solving global problems.