From Li clusters to nanocatalysis: A brief tour of 40 years of cluster chemistry

In this brief account dedicated to the memory of Professor Renato Ugo I will trace the history of 40 years of research in cluster chemistry. I will describe how my research activity started in the early 1980s with studies inspired by the vision of Renato Ugo on the electronic structure of gas-phase Li clusters and their interaction with hydrogen molecules. Since then, research on cluster chemistry and physics has done enormous progress, thanks to the development of new experimental techniques, of advanced theoretical methods, and a continuous growth of computing power. The structure and properties of both naked clusters and ligand-stabilized organometallic clusters have been elucidated with the final aim to create strong links between cluster science, surface chemistry, and heterogenous catalysis. This resulted in a better understand of catalysis by supported nanoparticles and in the possibility to design new nanostructured catalysts with desired properties.