Characterization of supported rhodium and ruthenium carbonyl clusters by EXAFS spectroscopy

Achieving complete electrooxidation of ethanol by single atomic Rh decoration of Pt nanocubes

Direct ethanol fuel cells are attracting growing attention as portable power sources due to their advantages such as higher mass-energy density than hydrogen and less toxicity than methanol. However, it is challenging to achieve the complete electrooxidation to generate 12 electrons per ethanol, resulting in a low fuel utilization efficiency. This manuscript reports the complete ethanol electrooxidation by engineering efficient catalysts via single-atom modification. The combined electrochemical measurements, in situ characterization, and density functional theory calculations unravel synergistic effects of single Rh atoms and Pt nanocubes and identify reaction pathways leading to the selective C–C bond cleavage to oxidize ethanol to CO₂. This study provides a unique single-atom approach to tune the activity and selectivity toward complicated electrocatalytic reactions.

The development of single site electrocatalysts such as single-atom catalyst (SAC) has demonstrated the advantages of high precious metal utilization and tunable metal-support interfacial properties. However, the fundamental understanding of unalloyed single metal atom decorated on a metallic substrate is still lacking. Herein, we report unalloyed single atomic, partially oxidized Rh on the Pt nanocube surface as the electrocatalyst to completely oxidize ethanol to CO₂ at a record-low potential of 0.35 V. In situ X-ray absorption fine structure measurements and density functional theory calculations reveal that the single-atom Rh sites facilitate the C–C bond cleavage and the removal of the *CO intermediates. This work not only reveals the fundamental role of unalloyed, partially oxidized SAC in ethanol oxidation reaction but also offers a unique single-atom approach using low-coordination active sites on shape-controlled nanocatalysts to tune the activity and selectivity toward complicated catalytic reactions.

Bimetallic Ru-Co Clusters Derived from a Confined Alloying Process within Zeolite-Imidazolate Frameworks for Efficient NH3 Decomposition and Synthesis

Herein, a series of carbocatalysts containing Ru-based clusters have been prepared by the assistance of zeolite-imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs). The introduction of Ru is based on the adsorption of well-defined Ru₃(CO)₁₂ within the cavity of ZIFs following decomposition at 900 °C. Moreover, without breaking the skeleton and porosity of ZIFs, the as-generated Ru species would bond with the Co nodes in situ to form bimetallic Ru-Co clusters if the Co-bearing metal-organic frameworks were utilized as the host. Within the confined space of ZIFs, the assembly of Ru and Co could be rationally designed, and their structures could be sophisticatedly controlled at the atomic scale. Among these Ru-based compositions, the Ru-Co clusters@N-C exhibited remarkable catalytic activity for the NH₃ decomposition to H₂ and NH₃ synthesis versus Ru-Co NPs@N-C, Ru clusters@N-C, and Ru NPs@N-C. This study may open up a new routine to synthesize metallic clusters or other subnano structures by the confinement of ZIFs.

X-ray spectroscopy for chemistry in the 2-4 keV energy regime at the XMaS beamline: ionic liquids, Rh and Pd catalysts in gas and liquid environments, and Cl contamination in γ-Al2O3

The 2-4 keV energy range provides a rich window into many facets of materials science and chemistry. Within this window, P, S, Cl, K and Ca K-edges may be found along with the L-edges of industrially important elements from Y through to Sn. Yet, compared with those that cater for energies above ca. 4-5 keV, there are relatively few resources available for X-ray spectroscopy below these energies. In addition, in situ or operando studies become to varying degrees more challenging than at higher X-ray energies due to restrictions imposed by the lower energies of the X-rays upon the design and construction of appropriate sample environments. The XMaS beamline at the ESRF has recently made efforts to extend its operational energy range to include this softer end of the X-ray spectrum. In this report the resulting performance of this resource for X-ray spectroscopy is detailed with specific attention drawn to: understanding electrostatic and charge transfer effects at the S K-edge in ionic liquids; quantification of dilution limits at the Cl K- and Rh L3-edges and structural equilibria in solution; in vacuum deposition and reduction of [Rh(I)(CO)2Cl]2 to γ-Al2O3; contamination of γ-Al2O3 by Cl and its potential role in determining the chemical character of supported Rh catalysts; and the development of chlorinated Pd catalysts in `green' solvent systems. Sample environments thus far developed are also presented, characterized and their overall performance evaluated.

Oxide- and Zeolite-Supported Molecular Metal Complexes and Clusters: Physical Characterization and Determination of Structure, Bonding, and Metal Oxidation State

This article is a review of the physical characterization of well-defined site-isolated molecular metal complexes and metal clusters supported on metal oxides and zeolites. These surface species are of interest primarily as catalysts; as a consequence of their relatively uniform structures, they can be characterized much more precisely than traditional supported catalysts. The properties discussed in this review include metal nuclearity, oxidation state, and ligand environment, as well as metal-support interactions. These properties are determined by complementary techniques, including transmission electron microscopy; X-ray absorption, infrared, Raman, and NMR spectroscopies; and density functional theory. The strengths and limitations of these techniques are assessed in the context of results characterizing samples that have been investigated thoroughly and with multiple techniques. The depth of understanding of well-defined metal complexes and metal clusters on supports is approaching that attainable for molecular analogues in solution. The results provide a foundation for understanding the more complex materials that are typical of industrial catalysts.

Polyoxoanion-Supported Organometallic Complexes: Carbonyls of Rhenium(I), Iridium(I), and Rhodium(I) That Are Soluble Analogs of Solid-Oxide-Supported M(CO)(n)()(+) and That Exhibit Novel M(CO)(n)()(+) Mobility

The Dawson-type P(2)W(15)Nb(3)O(62)(9)(-) polyoxoanion-supported Re(CO)(3)(+) complex, [Re(CO)(3).P(2)W(15)Nb(3)O(62)](8)(-) (1), has been synthesized and characterized in two different counter-cation compositions. The [(n-C(4)H(9))(4)N](8)(8+) complex provides a highly soluble compound which exists as a single isomer in solution. The carbonyl stretching infrared frequencies suggest that the P(2)W(15)Nb(3)O(62)(9)(-) ligand serves as a strong electron donor to the Re(CO)(3)(+) fragment. The P(2)W(15)Nb(3)O(62)(9)(-) polyoxoanion-supported Ir(CO)(2)(+) complex [Ir(CO)(2).P(2)W(15)Nb(3)O(62)](8)(-) (2) has also been synthesized and characterized as its octakis(tetrabutylammonium), [(n-C(4)H(9))(4)N](8)(8+), salt. This compound was characterized by NMR and IR, results which demonstrate that 2 also exists as a single isomer in solution. The [Ir(CO)(2).P(2)W(15)Nb(3)O(62)](8)(-) complex is stable in the absence of water, but decomposes quickly in the presence of even 1 equiv of water. Attempted preparation of the analogous P(2)W(15)Nb(3)O(62)(9)(-) -supported Rh(CO)(2)(+) complex (3), while monitoring by (31)P NMR, revealed that this compound is unstable in solution at room temperature. In addition, we have discovered that added Na(+) can induce the formation of non-C(3)(v)() symmetry isomers of supported Re(CO)(3)(+) and Ir(CO)(2)(+) and, by inference, supported Ir(1,5-COD)(+). When Na(+) is removed from these systems by addition of Kryptofix[2.2.2], the non-C(3)(v)() isomers convert back to the single, C(3)(v)() isomer with heating, thereby providing a model system for the little studied mobility of M(CO)(n)()(+) cations across a soluble-oxide surface. When [Rh(CO)(2).P(2)W(15)Nb(3)O(62)](8)(-) is irradiated in the presence of hydrogen and cyclohexene a novel polyoxoanion-stabilized Rh(0)(n)() nanocluster is formed, results that bear a strong analogy to Yates' work studying atomically-dispersed Rh(CO)(2)(+) on solid Al(2)O(3).(10e) Yates and co-workers observe that Rh(CO)(+).Al(2)O(3) loses a CO upon photolysis, and that the resultant Rh(CO)(1)(+).Al(2)O(3) is reduced under H(2) to form Rh(0), which in turn yields Rh(0)(n)() clusters on Al(2)O(3)-a process that, intriguingly, is largely reversible if CO is readded. Also briefly discussed is other relevant literature of solid-oxide-supported Re(CO)(3)(+) and M(CO)(2)(+) (M = Ir, Rh), literature that makes apparent the potential significance of these complexes as EXAFS and other spectroscopic models of solid-oxide-supported M(CO)(n)()(+).