Superatoms offer new dimension to materials chemistry palette
By 
James Mitchell Crow2026-06-22T08:47:00
Could atomically precise nanoclusters mimic the chemistry of particular atoms without their toxic or cost drawbacks? James Mitchell Crow reports on the emerging third dimension of the periodic table
Could chemists expand the periodic table into an entirely new dimension? This feature explores the rise of ‘superatoms’ – atomically precise clusters engineered to mimic the chemistry of conventional elements while sidestepping their toxicity, instability or cost. From next-generation catalysts to more durable solar cells, researchers are beginning to turn a once-theoretical idea into a powerful new toolkit for materials design.