From Elements to Clusters: The Periodic Table Revisited

Cluster science has given rise to the possibility of forming “superatoms”, species that mimic elements of the periodic table but often display multiple functionalities. The ability to tailor the properties of these species opens up a new approach to forming nanoscale materials from the bottom up via cluster assembly. Recent success in designing these superatoms composing a “3D periodic table” and understanding the fundamentals governing their properties and stability are discussed, as well as prospects for the future of this field.