Thiolate-protected atomically precise gold nanoclusters exhibit molecular properties owing to the quantum confinement effect, originating from the ultra-small size of the nanoclusters. The unique characteristics of gold nanoclusters such as large surface area, optical features, and chirality, enable their applications in catalysis, bioimaging, sensing and so on. Additionally, the core-shell structure of the nanocluster, with the metal kernel enveloped by a monolayer of organic ligands, provides the feasibility to manipulate the metal core and surface ligands, thereby optimizing the physicochemical properties to suit specific objectives.