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Luo Z, Shehzad A. Advances in Naked Metal Clusters for Catalysis. Chemphyschem 2024; 25:e202300715. [PMID: 38450926 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202300715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
The properties of sub-nano metal clusters are governed by quantum confinement and their large surface-to-bulk ratios, atomically precise compositions and geometric/electronic structures. Advances in metal clusters lead to new opportunities in diverse aspects of sciences including chemo-sensing, bio-imaging, photochemistry, and catalysis. Naked metal clusters having synergic multiple active sites and coordinative unsaturation and tunable stability/activity enable researchers to design atomically precise metal catalysts with tailored catalysis for different reactions. Here we summarize the progress of ligand-free naked metal clusters for catalytic applications. It is anticipated that this review helps to better understand the chemistry of small metal clusters and facilitates the design and development of new catalysts for potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixun Luo
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Aamir Shehzad
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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2
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Mai S, Sun J, Fang Z, Xiao GB, Cao J. Metal Clusters Based Multifunctional Materials for Solar Cells. Chemistry 2024:e202303973. [PMID: 38179822 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202303973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
As a multifunctional material, metal clusters have recently received some attention for their application in solar cells.This review delves into the multifaceted role of metal clusters in advancing solar cell technologies, covering diverse aspects from electron transport and interface modification to serving as molecular precursors for inorganic materials and acting as photosensitizers in metal-cluster sensitized solar cells (MCSSCs). The studies conducted by various researchers illustrate the crucial impact of metal clusters, such as gold nanoclusters (Au NCs), on enhancing solar cell efficiency through size-dependent effects, distinct interface behaviors, and tailored interface engineering. From optimizing charge transfer rates to improving light absorption and reducing carrier recombination, metal clusters prove instrumental in shaping the landscape of solar energy conversion.The promising performance of metal-cluster sensitized solar cells, coupled with their scalability and flexibility, positions them as a exciting avenue for future clean energy applications. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for continued interdisciplinary research and technological innovation to unlock the full potential of metal clusters in contributing to sustainable and high-performance solar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibei Mai
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Metal Chemistry and Resources Utilization of Gansu Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Jia Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Metal Chemistry and Resources Utilization of Gansu Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Zihan Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Metal Chemistry and Resources Utilization of Gansu Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Guo-Bin Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Metal Chemistry and Resources Utilization of Gansu Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Jing Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Metal Chemistry and Resources Utilization of Gansu Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
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3
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Sang D, Luo X, Liu J. Biological Interaction and Imaging of Ultrasmall Gold Nanoparticles. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2023; 16:44. [PMID: 38047998 PMCID: PMC10695915 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-023-01266-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), serving as a bridge between small molecules and traditional inorganic nanoparticles, create significant opportunities to address many challenges in the health field. This review discusses the recent advances in the biological interactions and imaging of ultrasmall AuNPs. The challenges and the future development directions of the ultrasmall AuNPs are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongmiao Sang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Engineering of Guangdong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxi Luo
- Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Engineering of Guangdong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinbin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Engineering of Guangdong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China.
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4
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Guo C, Tang Y, Yang Z, Zhao T, Liu J, Zhao Y, Wang F. Reinforcing the Efficiency of Photothermal Catalytic CO 2 Methanation through Integration of Ru Nanoparticles with Photothermal MnCo 2O 4 Nanosheets. ACS NANO 2023. [PMID: 37982387 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c07630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrogenation to methane (CH4) is regarded as a promising approach for CO2 utilization, whereas achieving desirable conversion efficiency under mild conditions remains a significant challenge. Herein, we have identified ultrasmall Ru nanoparticles (∼2.5 nm) anchored on MnCo2O4 nanosheets as prospective photothermal catalysts for CO2 methanation at ambient pressure with light irradiation. Our findings revealed that MnCo2O4 nanosheets exhibit dual functionality as photothermal substrates for localized temperature enhancement and photocatalysts for electron donation. As such, the optimized Ru/MnCo2O4-2 gave a high CH4 production rate of 66.3 mmol gcat-1 h-1 (corresponding to 5.1 mol gRu-1 h-1) with 96% CH4 selectivity at 230 °C under ambient pressure and light irradiation (420-780 nm, 1.25 W cm-2), outperforming most reported plasmonic metal-based catalysts. The mechanisms behind the intriguing photothermal catalytic performance improvement were substantiated through a comprehensive investigation involving experimental characterizations, numerical simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which unveiled the synergistic effects of enhanced charge separation efficiency, improved reaction kinetics, facilitated reactant adsorption/activation and accelerated intermediate conversion under light irradiation over Ru/MnCo2O4. A comparison study showed that, with identical external input energy during the reaction, Ru/MnCo2O4-2 had a much higher catalytic efficiency compared to Ru/TiO2 and Ru/Al2O3. This study underscores the pivotal role played by photothermal supports and is believed to engender a heightened interest in plasmonic metal nanoparticles anchored on photothermal substrates for CO2 methanation under mild conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan Guo
- Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, P. R. China
| | - Yunxiang Tang
- Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, P. R. China
| | - Zhengyi Yang
- Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, P. R. China
| | - Tingting Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, P. R. China
| | - Jiurong Liu
- Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, P. R. China
| | - Yufei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Fenglong Wang
- Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, P. R. China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Shandong University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, China
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Alotabi AS, Yin Y, Redaa A, Tesana S, Metha GF, Andersson GG. Effect of TiO 2 Film Thickness on the Stability of Au 9 Clusters with a CrO x Layer. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:3218. [PMID: 36145007 PMCID: PMC9506353 DOI: 10.3390/nano12183218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering allows the fabrication of TiO2 films with high purity, reliable control of film thickness, and uniform morphology. In the present study, the change in surface roughness upon heating two different thicknesses of RF sputter-deposited TiO2 films was investigated. As a measure of the process of the change in surface morphology, chemically -synthesised phosphine-protected Au9 clusters covered by a photodeposited CrOx layer were used as a probe. Subsequent to the deposition of the Au9 clusters and the CrOx layer, samples were heated to 200 ℃ to remove the triphenylphosphine ligands from the Au9 cluster. After heating, the thick TiO2 film was found to be mobile, in contrast to the thin TiO2 film. The influence of the mobility of the TiO2 films on the Au9 clusters was investigated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was found that the high mobility of the thick TiO2 film after heating leads to a significant agglomeration of the Au9 clusters, even when protected by the CrOx layer. The thin TiO2 film has a much lower mobility when being heated, resulting in only minor agglomeration of the Au9 clusters covered with the CrOx layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulrahman S. Alotabi
- Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Arts in Baljurashi, Albaha University, Baljurashi 65655, Saudi Arabia
- Flinders Microscopy and Microanalysis, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Yanting Yin
- Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
- Flinders Microscopy and Microanalysis, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Ahmad Redaa
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
- Faculty of Earth Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Siriluck Tesana
- The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
- National Isotope Centre, GNS Science, Lower Hutt 5010, New Zealand
| | - Gregory F. Metha
- Department of Chemistry, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Gunther G. Andersson
- Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
- Flinders Microscopy and Microanalysis, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
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6
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Coordination of the Hemilabile Ligand Diphenylvinylphosphine to Ru4(µ-H)4(CO)12: Synthesis, Stability and Structural Studies. J CLUST SCI 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10876-021-02150-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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7
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Qu S, Guan J, Cai D, Wang Q, Wang X, Song W, Ji W. An Electrochromic Ag-Decorated WO 3-x Film with Adjustable Defect States for Electrochemical Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy. NANOMATERIALS 2022; 12:nano12101637. [PMID: 35630860 PMCID: PMC9146956 DOI: 10.3390/nano12101637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman scattering (EC-SERS) spectroscopy is an ultrasensitive spectro-electrochemistry technique that provides mechanistic and dynamic information on electrochemical interfaces at the molecular level. However, the plasmon-mediated photocatalysis hinders the intrinsic electrochemical behavior of molecules at electrochemical interfaces. This work aimed to develop a facile method for constructing a reliable EC-SERS substrate that can be used to study the molecular dynamics at electrochemical interfaces. Herein, a novel Ag-WO3-x electrochromic heterostructure was synthesized for EC-SERS. Especially, the use of electrochromic WO3-x film suppresses the influence of hot-electrons-induced catalysis while offering a reliable SERS effect. Based on this finding, the real electrochemical behavior of p-aminothiophenol (PATP) on Ag nanoparticles (NPs) surface was revealed for the first time. We are confident that metal-semiconductor electrochromic heterostructures could be developed into reliable substrates for EC-SERS analysis. Furthermore, the results obtained in this work provide new insights not only into the chemical mechanism of SERS, but also into the hot-electron transfer mechanism in metal-semiconductor heterostructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Qu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China; (S.Q.); (J.G.); (D.C.); (Q.W.)
| | - Jing Guan
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China; (S.Q.); (J.G.); (D.C.); (Q.W.)
| | - Dongqi Cai
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China; (S.Q.); (J.G.); (D.C.); (Q.W.)
| | - Qianshuo Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China; (S.Q.); (J.G.); (D.C.); (Q.W.)
| | - Xiuyun Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China; (S.Q.); (J.G.); (D.C.); (Q.W.)
- Correspondence: (X.W.); (W.S.); (W.J.)
| | - Wei Song
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
- Correspondence: (X.W.); (W.S.); (W.J.)
| | - Wei Ji
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China; (S.Q.); (J.G.); (D.C.); (Q.W.)
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 145040, China
- Correspondence: (X.W.); (W.S.); (W.J.)
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Jiao J, Zhang N, Zhang C, Sun N, Pan Y, Chen C, Li J, Tan M, Cui R, Shi Z, Zhang J, Xiao H, Lu T. Doping Ruthenium into Metal Matrix for Promoted pH-Universal Hydrogen Evolution. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2200010. [PMID: 35332693 PMCID: PMC9130909 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202200010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
For heterogeneous catalysts, the active sites exposed on the surface have been investigated intensively, yet the effect of the subsurface-underlying atoms is much less scrutinized. Here, a surface-engineering strategy to dope Ru into the subsurface/surface of Co matrix is reported, which alters the electronic structure and lattice strain of the catalyst surface. Using hydrogen evolution (HER) as a model reaction, it is found that the subsurface doping Ru can optimize the hydrogen adsorption energy and improve the catalytic performance, with overpotentials of 28 and 45 mV at 10 mA cm-2 in alkaline and acidic media, respectively, and in particular, 28 mV in neutral electrolyte. The experimental results and theoretical calculations indicate that the subsurface/surface doping Ru improves the HER efficiency in terms of both thermodynamics and kinetics. The approach here stands as an effective strategy for catalyst design via subsurface engineering at the atomic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiqing Jiao
- MOE International Joint Laboratory of Materials MicrostructureInstitute for New Energy Materials and Low Carbon TechnologiesSchool of Materials Science and EngineeringTianjin University of TechnologyTianjin300384China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical TransformationsTianjin300192China
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Bio‐Fibers and Eco‐TextilesQingdao UniversityQingdao266071China
| | - Nan‐Nan Zhang
- Department of ChemistryTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Chao Zhang
- MOE International Joint Laboratory of Materials MicrostructureInstitute for New Energy Materials and Low Carbon TechnologiesSchool of Materials Science and EngineeringTianjin University of TechnologyTianjin300384China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical TransformationsTianjin300192China
| | - Ning Sun
- MOE International Joint Laboratory of Materials MicrostructureInstitute for New Energy Materials and Low Carbon TechnologiesSchool of Materials Science and EngineeringTianjin University of TechnologyTianjin300384China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical TransformationsTianjin300192China
| | - Yuan Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil ProcessingChina University of Petroleum (East China)Qingdao266580China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of ChemistryTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of ChemistryTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Meijie Tan
- MOE International Joint Laboratory of Materials MicrostructureInstitute for New Energy Materials and Low Carbon TechnologiesSchool of Materials Science and EngineeringTianjin University of TechnologyTianjin300384China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical TransformationsTianjin300192China
| | - Ruixue Cui
- MOE International Joint Laboratory of Materials MicrostructureInstitute for New Energy Materials and Low Carbon TechnologiesSchool of Materials Science and EngineeringTianjin University of TechnologyTianjin300384China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical TransformationsTianjin300192China
| | - Zhaolin Shi
- MOE International Joint Laboratory of Materials MicrostructureInstitute for New Energy Materials and Low Carbon TechnologiesSchool of Materials Science and EngineeringTianjin University of TechnologyTianjin300384China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical TransformationsTianjin300192China
| | - Jiangwei Zhang
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy & State Key Laboratory of CatalysisDalian Institute of Chemical PhysicsChinese Academy of SciencesDalian116023P. R. China
| | - Hai Xiao
- Department of ChemistryTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Tongbu Lu
- MOE International Joint Laboratory of Materials MicrostructureInstitute for New Energy Materials and Low Carbon TechnologiesSchool of Materials Science and EngineeringTianjin University of TechnologyTianjin300384China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical TransformationsTianjin300192China
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Liao Q, Shi M, Zhang Q, Cheng W, Ji P, Fu X, Lai H, Fan R, Sheng J, Li H. Gold Catalyst Anchored to Pre-Reduced Co 3O 4 Nanorods for the Hydrodeoxygenation of Vanillin Using Alcohols as Hydrogen Donors. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:3939-3948. [PMID: 35014782 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c18197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The preparation of highly dispersed metal catalysts with strong electronic metal-support interactions (EMSIs) is of great significance. In this study, oxygen vacancies (OVs) were generated on the surfaces of Co3O4 nanorods (NRs) through NaBH4 treatment, and then the generated surface OVs were used to anchor gold clusters. The resulting catalyst was used for the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of vanillin based on transfer hydrogenation with alcohol donors. The conversion of vanillin and the selectivity to 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol (MMP) both reached 99% under the optimized reaction conditions, and these values were significantly higher than those obtained for the gold catalyst supported on the untreated Co3O4 NRs. The obtained results were verified by theoretical calculations and experimental data and confirmed the existence of strong EMSIs between the OV-enriched Co3O4 NRs (Co3O4 NRs-OVs) and the gold clusters, which allows electron transfer from the Co3O4 NRs to gold. Increasing the number of electrons on the gold surface can promote the catalytic hydrogen transfer of alcohol, in addition to selectively adsorbing the C═O group in vanillin to improve the selectivity toward MMP. This strategy based on the OV-anchoring of metals onto the surface of a support can be extended to other metals, thereby providing a promising method for the design of advanced and highly efficient metal catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingliang Liao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials and Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, P. R. China
| | - Meng Shi
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials and Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, P. R. China
| | - Qingxiao Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials and Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, P. R. China
| | - Weihua Cheng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials and Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, P. R. China
| | - Peiyi Ji
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials and Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, P. R. China
| | - Xueli Fu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials and Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, P. R. China
| | - Huirong Lai
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials and Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, P. R. China
| | - Runze Fan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials and Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, P. R. China
| | - Jie Sheng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials and Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, P. R. China
| | - Hui Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials and Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, P. R. China
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10
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Alotabi AS, Yin Y, Redaa A, Tesana S, Metha GF, Andersson GG. Cr 2O 3 layer inhibits agglomeration of phosphine-protected Au 9 clusters on TiO 2 films. J Chem Phys 2021; 155:164702. [PMID: 34717368 DOI: 10.1063/5.0059912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The properties of semiconductor surfaces can be modified by the deposition of metal clusters consisting of a few atoms. The properties of metal clusters and of cluster-modified surfaces depend on the number of atoms forming the clusters. Deposition of clusters with a monodisperse size distribution thus allows tailoring of the surface properties for technical applications. However, it is a challenge to retain the size of the clusters after their deposition due to the tendency of the clusters to agglomerate. The agglomeration can be inhibited by covering the metal cluster modified surface with a thin metal oxide overlayer. In the present work, phosphine-protected Au clusters, Au9(PPh3)8(NO3)3, were deposited onto RF-sputter deposited TiO2 films and subsequently covered with a Cr2O3 film only a few monolayers thick. The samples were then heated to 200 °C to remove the phosphine ligands, which is a lower temperature than that required to remove thiolate ligands from Au clusters. It was found that the Cr2O3 covering layer inhibited cluster agglomeration at an Au cluster coverage of 0.6% of a monolayer. When no protecting Cr2O3 layer was present, the clusters were found to agglomerate to a large degree on the TiO2 surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulrahman S Alotabi
- Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5042, Australia
| | - Yanting Yin
- Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5042, Australia
| | - Ahmad Redaa
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Siriluck Tesana
- The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8141, New Zealand
| | - Gregory F Metha
- Department of Chemistry, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Gunther G Andersson
- Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5042, Australia
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11
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Mason JL, Folluo CN, Jarrold CC. More than little fragments of matter: Electronic and molecular structures of clusters. J Chem Phys 2021; 154:200901. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0054222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jarrett L. Mason
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
| | - Carley N. Folluo
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
| | - Caroline Chick Jarrold
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
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12
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Modulating electron density of vacancy site by single Au atom for effective CO 2 photoreduction. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1675. [PMID: 33723264 PMCID: PMC7960986 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21925-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The surface electron density significantly affects the photocatalytic efficiency, especially the photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction, which involves multi-electron participation in the conversion process. Herein, we propose a conceptually different mechanism for surface electron density modulation based on the model of Au anchored CdS. We firstly manipulate the direction of electron transfer by regulating the vacancy types of CdS. When electrons accumulate on vacancies instead of single Au atoms, the adsorption types of CO2 change from physical adsorption to chemical adsorption. More importantly, the surface electron density is manipulated by controlling the size of Au nanostructures. When Au nanoclusters downsize to single Au atoms, the strong hybridization of Au 5d and S 2p orbits accelerates the photo-electrons transfer onto the surface, resulting in more electrons available for CO2 reduction. As a result, the product generation rate of AuSA/Cd1−xS manifests a remarkable at least 113-fold enhancement compared with pristine Cd1−xS. The electron density of reactive sites significantly affects catalytic performances. Here, authors demonstrate the electron density of different reactive sites can be modulated by regulating the type of vacancy and the size of Au, leading to effective CO2 photoreduction.
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13
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Larina LL, Omelianovych O, Dao VD, Pyo K, Lee D, Choi HS. Energy band alignment at the heterointerface between a nanostructured TiO 2 layer and Au 22(SG) 18 clusters: relevance to metal-cluster-sensitized solar cells. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:175-184. [PMID: 33325955 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr06662a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study is the first to quantify energy band alignments at a nanostructured TiO2/Au22(SG)18 cluster interface using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The d-band of Au clusters shows band-like character and occupied states at the Fermi level are not detected. The results provide evidence of the existence of a finite optical energy gap in Au22(SG)18 clusters and the molecular-like nature of these clusters. The pinning position of the Fermi energy level at the interface was determined to be 2.8 and 1.3 eV higher than the top of the TiO2 valence band and the highest occupied molecular orbit level of the Au clusters, respectively. A diffuse reflectance and absorption analysis quantified a 3.2 eV bandgap of the TiO2 layer and a 2.2 eV energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbit (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbit (LUMO) levels of the Au clusters. Thus, a cliff-like offset of 0.5 eV between the LUMO level and the TiO2 conduction band was determined. The cliff-like offset of 0.5 eV provides room for improving the efficiency of metal-cluster-sensitized solar cells (MCSSC) further by lowering the LUMO level through a change in the cluster size. The offset of 0.5 eV between the HOMO level and the 3I-/I-3 redox level yields a remarkable loss-in-potential, which implies the possibility of increasing the open-circuit voltage further by properly replacing the redox couple in the MCSSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liudmila L Larina
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea.
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14
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Zhao C, Zhang X, Yu M, Wang A, Wang L, Xue L, Liu J, Yang Z, Wang W. Cooperative Catalysis toward Oxygen Reduction Reaction under Dual Coordination Environments on Intrinsic AMnO 3 -Type Perovskites via Regulating Stacking Configurations of Coordination Units. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e2006145. [PMID: 33179327 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202006145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
It remains challenging for pure-phase catalysts to achieve high performance during the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction to overcome the sluggish kinetics without the assistance of extrinsic conditions. Herein, a series of pristine perovskites, i.e., AMnO3 (A = Ca, Sr, and Ba), are proposed with various octahedron stacking configurations to demonstrate the cooperative catalysis over SrMnO3 jointly explored by experiments and first-principles calculations. Comparing with the unitary stacking of coordination units in CaMnO3 or BaMnO3 , the intrinsic SrMnO3 with a mixture of corner-sharing and face-sharing octahedron stacking configurations demonstrates superior activity (Ehalf-wave = 0.81 V), and charge-discharge stability over 400 h without the voltage gap (≈0.8 V) increasing in zinc-air batteries. The theoretical study reveals that, on the SrMnO3 (110) surface, the active sites switch from coordinatively unsaturated atop Mn (*OO, *OOH) to Mn-Mn bridge (*O, *OH). Therefore, the intrinsic dual coordination environments of Mn-Ocorner and Mn-Oface enable cooperative modulation of the interaction strength of the oxygen intermediates with the surface, inducing the decrease of the *OH desorption energy (rate-limiting step) unrestricted by scaling relationships with the overpotential of ≈0.28 V. This finding provides insights into catalyst design through screening intrinsic structures with multiple coordination unit stacking configurations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunning Zhao
- Integrated Circuits and Smart System Lab (Shenzhen), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Photo-Electronic Thin Film Device and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China
| | - Xilin Zhang
- School of Physics, Henan Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Materials, Henan Normal University, 46# Jianshe Road, Xinxiang, 453007, P. R. China
| | - Meng Yu
- Integrated Circuits and Smart System Lab (Shenzhen), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Photo-Electronic Thin Film Device and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China
| | - Ansheng Wang
- Integrated Circuits and Smart System Lab (Shenzhen), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Photo-Electronic Thin Film Device and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China
| | - Linxia Wang
- Integrated Circuits and Smart System Lab (Shenzhen), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Photo-Electronic Thin Film Device and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China
| | - Lina Xue
- Integrated Circuits and Smart System Lab (Shenzhen), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Photo-Electronic Thin Film Device and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China
| | - Jieyu Liu
- Integrated Circuits and Smart System Lab (Shenzhen), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Photo-Electronic Thin Film Device and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China
| | - Zongxian Yang
- School of Physics, Henan Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Materials, Henan Normal University, 46# Jianshe Road, Xinxiang, 453007, P. R. China
| | - Weichao Wang
- Integrated Circuits and Smart System Lab (Shenzhen), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Photo-Electronic Thin Film Device and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China
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15
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Jin R, Li G, Sharma S, Li Y, Du X. Toward Active-Site Tailoring in Heterogeneous Catalysis by Atomically Precise Metal Nanoclusters with Crystallographic Structures. Chem Rev 2020; 121:567-648. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rongchao Jin
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Gao Li
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, Liaoning 116011, China
| | - Sachil Sharma
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, Liaoning 116011, China
| | - Yingwei Li
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Xiangsha Du
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
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