Chiral Metal Nanoclusters: Structure, Synthesis, and Optoelectronic Applications

Abstract

Optoelectronic technology plays a pivotal role in energy conversion, information processing, and bioanalysis, where efficient transduction between optical and electrical signals critically depends on materials with strong light absorption, rapid electronic response, and well-controlled optical properties. Chiral metal nanoclusters (NCs), distinguished by their molecular-level structural precision, high photostability, and hierarchical chirality reminiscent of biomolecular architectures, have emerged as promising candidates for optoelectronic applications, in which the multilevel origins of chirality—from the metal core to the metal-ligand (M-L) interface and surface ligands—provide effective means to tailor chiroptical properties and enable enantioselective luminescence and sensing platforms. This review provides a systematic overview of the structural origins, synthetic strategies, and optoelectronic applications of chiral metal NCs. The discussion outlines the multilevel origins of chirality in NCs architectures, followed by recent advances in enantioselective synthesis. Subsequent sections focus on their applications in chiral sensing, circularly polarized luminescence (CPL), and the emerging opportunities in chiral electrocatalysis inspired by the chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect. The insights summarized here aim to guide the rational design of chiral metal NCs and to advance their integration into optoelectronic systems with enhanced chiral functionality.

Keywords

chiral nanomaterials / chirality / metal nanoclusters / optoelectronic materials

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