The big challenge in heterogeneous catalysis is to increase the surface area of catalyst which has a direct effect on the catalytic activity. Reducing the particle size of catalyst is a promising way of increasing the catalytic activity. This method has been used for a long time by supporting the catalyst particles on an oxide surface, though with some restrictions. An efficient way of increasing catalytic activity is to use the metal nanoclusters which are more active catalysts than the respective bulk metal, because a large percentage of atoms are on the surface of nanoclusters. Fabrication of transition metal(0) nanoclusters with controllable size and size distribution are of great importance due to their potential applications in catalysis. In their catalytic application one of the most important problems is the aggregation of nanoclusters into clumps and ultimately to the bulk metal. Using some stabilizers can prevent the aggregation.  Selected examples:

“Water dispersible acetate stabilized ruthenium(0) nanoclusters as catalyst for hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of sodium borohyride”, Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical, 258 (2006) 95–103,http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2006.05.037

“Dimethylammonium Hexanoate-Stabilized Rhodium(0) Nanoclusters Identified as True Heterogeneous Catalyst with the  Highest Observed Activity in the Dehydrogenation of Dimethylamine Borane”, Inorganic Chemistry  48 (2009) 8955–8964, DOI: 10.1021/ic9014306

“One-pot synthesis of colloidally robust rhodium(0) nanoparticles and their catalytic activity in the dehydrogenation of ammonia-borane for chemical hydrogen storage”, Dalton Transactions, Dalton Trans., 40 (2011) 3584-3591. DOI:10.1039/C0DT01633K