# Continuous flow synthesis of atom-precise platinum clusters

## TL;DR

This paper presents a new method for making tiny platinum clusters with exact numbers of atoms using a continuous flow system, which could improve catalysis and scale-up processes.

## Contribution

The study introduces a modular continuous flow platform for atom-precise cluster synthesis using a CSTR cascade.

## Key findings

- Platinum clusters with precise atom numbers were synthesized using a continuous flow system.
- Transmission electron microscopy and mass spectrometry confirmed the atom-precise structure of the clusters.
- The method expands the use of continuous-flow systems beyond organic synthesis to inorganic cluster production.

## Abstract

Subnanometer clusters with precise atom numbers hold immense potential for applications in catalysis, as single atoms can significantly impact catalytic properties. Typically, inorganic clusters are produced using batch processes with high dilutions, making the scale-up of these processes time-consuming and its reproducibility challenging. While continuous-flow systems have been employed for organic synthesis and, more recently, nanoparticle preparation, these approaches have only rarely been applied to cluster synthesis. In a flexible, continuous flow synthesis platform, we integrate multiple continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTR) into a cascade to synthesize clusters with a precise number of atoms, demonstrating the potential of this approach for atom precise cluster synthesis and expanding the application of continuous-flow systems beyond organic synthesis.

Platinum clusters were prepared in a continuous flow synthesis using a modular platform based on a continuous stirred tank reactor cascade. Transmission electron microscopy and mass spectrometry confirmed the atom-precise cluster structure.