Metal clusters are highly dynamic under catalytic conditions, which presents a challenge when it comes to recognizing active species. Now, the identification and categorization of metastable cluster states into ‘living libraries’ has been shown to clarify their crucial role in catalysis, pointing towards new design strategies for more efficient catalysts.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$32.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References
Bertrand, J. A., Cotton, F. A. & Dollase, W. A. Inorg. Chem. 2, 1166–1171 (1963).
Yamamoto, K., Imaoka, T., Tanabe, M. & Kambe, T. Chem. Rev. 120, 1397–1437 (2019).
Bromann, K. et al. Science 274, 956–958 (1996).
Inazu, M. et al. Nat. Commun. 13, 2968 (2022).
Fernando, A., Weerawardene, K. L. D. M., Karimova, N. V. & Aikens, C. M. Chem. Rev. 115, 6112–6216 (2015).
Zandkarimi, B., Poths, P. & Alexandrova, A. N. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 60, 11973–11982 (2021).
Bühler, R. et al. Nat. Chem. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-024-01726-3 (2025).
Nitopi, S. et al. Chem. Rev. 119, 7610–7672 (2019).
Pérez-Ramírez, J. & López, N. Nat. Catal. 2, 971–976 (2019).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Imaoka, T., Yamamoto, K. Checking out metal cluster chemistry from living libraries. Nat. Chem. 17, 473–474 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-025-01787-y
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-025-01787-y