Oxygen Electroreduction Catalyzed by Gold Nanoclusters: Strong Core Size Effects

Bigger isn't better: Gold nanoclusters exhibit enhanced electrocatalytic activity in oxygen reduction when the core size decreased from Au₁₄₀ to Au₁₁, as reflected by the onset potential Eonset and peak current density JK (see picture). The increasing fraction of surface atoms with low coordination numbers and the shift of the d-band center to the Fermi level facilitate oxygen adsorption.