Ultrasmall Pd nanoclusters： facile synthesis and versatile catalytic application

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of ultrasmall Pd nanoclusters（NCs） has been developed. The as-obtained Pd NCs displayed uniform size with an average diameter of 1.8±0.2 nm. The ultrasmall Pd NCs and carbon nanotubes（CNTs）-supported Pd NCs also showed outstanding catalytic activity for nitrobenzene reduction and Suzuki coupling reactions. Notably, the reactions were conducted under mild conditions with high yield and selectivity.