Real-Time Atomic-Scale Visualization of Reversible Copper Surface Activation during the CO Oxidation Reaction

By using in situ aberration-corrected environmental transmission electron microscopy, for the first time at atomic level, the dynamic evolution of the Cu surface is captured during CO oxidation. Under reaction conditions, the Cu surface is activated, typically involving 2–3 atomic layers with the formation of a reversible metastable phase that only exists during catalytic reactions. The distinctive role of CO and O₂ in the surface activation is revealed, which features CO exposure to lead to surface roughening and consequently formation of low-coordinated Cu atoms, while O₂ exposure induces a quasi-crystalline CuOx phase. Supported by DFT calculations, it is shown that crystalline CuOx reversibly transforms into the amorphous phase, acting as an active species to facilitate the interaction of gas reactants and catalyzing CO oxidation.     

Catalytic CO Oxidation by O2 Mediated by Noble‐Metal‐Free Cluster Anions Cu2VO3–5−

Catalytic CO oxidation by molecular O₂ is an important model reaction in both the condensed phase and gas‐phase studies. Available gas‐phase studies indicate that noble metal is indispensable in catalytic CO oxidation by O₂ under thermal collision conditions. Herein, we identified the first example of noble‐metal‐free heteronuclear oxide cluster catalysts, the copper–vanadium bimetallic oxide clusters Cu₂VO_3–5^? for CO oxidation by O₂. The reactions were characterized by mass spectrometry, photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional calculations. The dynamic nature of the Cu?Cu unit in terms of the electron storage and release is the driving force to promote CO oxidation and O₂ activation during the catalysis.     

Noble‐Metal‐Free Single‐Atom Catalysts CuAl4O7–9− for CO Oxidation by O2

The single copper atom doped clusters CuAl₄O_7–9^? can catalyze CO oxidation by O₂. The CuAl₄O_7–9^? clusters are the first group of experimentally identified noble‐metal free single atom catalysts for such a prototypical reaction. The reactions were characterized by mass spectrometry and density functional theory calculations. The CuAl₄O₉CO^? is much more reactive than CuAl₄O₉^? in the reaction with CO to generate CO₂. One adsorbed CO is crucial to stabilize Cu of CuAl₄O₉^? around +I oxidation state and promote the oxidation of another CO. The widely emphasized correlation between the catalytic reactivity of CO oxidation and Cu oxidation state can be understood at the strictly molecular level. The remarkable difference between Cu catalysis and noble‐metal catalysis was discussed.     

Reducing the Cost and Preserving the Reactivity in Noble‐Metal‐Based Catalysts: Oxidation of CO by Pt and Al–Pt Alloy Clusters Supported on Graphene

The oxidation mechanisms of CO to CO₂ on graphene‐supported Pt and Pt‐Al alloy clusters are elucidated by reactive dynamical simulations. The general mechanism evidenced is a Langmuir–Hinshelwood (LH) pathway in which O₂ is adsorbed on the cluster prior to the CO oxidation. The adsorbed O₂ dissociates into two atomic oxygen atoms thus promoting the CO oxidation. Auxiliary simulations on alloy clusters in which other metals (Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni) replace a Pt atom have pointed to the aluminum doped cluster as a special case. In the nanoalloy, the reaction mechanism for CO oxidation is still a LH pathway with an activation barrier sufficiently low to be overcome at room temperature, thus preserving the catalyst efficiency. This provides a generalizable strategy for the design of efficient, yet sustainable, Pt‐based catalysts at reduced cost.     

Preferential Carbon Monoxide Oxidation over Copper‐Based Catalysts under In Situ Ball Milling

In situ ball milling of solid catalysts is a promising yet almost unexplored concept for boosting catalytic performance. The continuous preferential oxidation of CO (CO‐PROX) under in situ ball milling of Cu‐based catalysts such as Cu/Cr₂O₃ is presented. At temperatures as low as −40 °C, considerable activity and more than 95 % selectivity were achieved. A negative apparent activation energy was observed, which is attributed to the mechanically induced generation and subsequent thermal healing of short‐lived surface defects. In situ ball milling at sub‐zero temperatures resulted in an increase of the CO oxidation rate by roughly 4 orders of magnitude. This drastic and highly selective enhancement of CO oxidation showcases the potential of in situ ball milling in heterogeneous catalysis.     

Tuning Interfacial Cu‐O Atomic Structures for Enhanced Catalytic Applications

Cu₂O/CuO_x (x=0, 1) nanocomposites with well‐defined morphologies have been widely applied in catalytic reactions. However, people still understand less about tuning interfacial Cu‐O atomic structures for enhanced catalytic applications, and a special review on this topic has not been reported so far. Herein, we summarize our understanding on tuning interfacial Cu‐O atomic structures based on the literature, including the formation as well as evolution mechanism of Cu‐O interfaces in Cu₂O/CuO and Cu₂O/Cu systems, and the improved performances in the fields of CO oxidation, NO_x oxidation, photoelectrocatalysis, water gas shift reaction, photodegradation of organic dyes, hydrogen evolution, and photoreduction of CO₂. Finally, we briefly propose several potential research directions.     

从头开始理解形貌依赖的CuOx-CeO2相互作用

CuOx/CeO2催化剂在CO氧化反应中表现出高催化活性和显著结构敏感性.文献报道中CuOx/CeO2催化剂体系的合成条件差异较大,从而导致观察到的CuOx-CeO2相互作用存在较大争议.因此,系统研究并阐明CuOx/CeO2催化剂中CuOx-CeO2相互作用对于理解复杂的CuOx-CeO2界面催化作用具有重要的研究意义.近期发现,氧化物纳米晶的形貌可作为一种新的结构参数,在不改变氧化物催化剂组成的条件下实现其结构和性能的调控.本文以不同形貌CeO2纳米晶为载体,包括优先暴露{110}+{100}晶面的CeO2纳米棒、优先暴露{100}晶面的CeO2纳米立方体和优先暴露{111}晶面的CeO2纳米多面体,采用等体积浸渍方法合成了Cu担载量为0.025%~5%的CuOx/CeO2纳米晶催化剂,结合谱学和电镜表征方法,以及CO吸附原位红外光谱,系统研究了CuOx物种在不同形貌CeO2纳米晶上的结构演化及其催化CO氧化的构-效关系.结构表征结果表明, CuOx物种结构不仅依赖于Cu的担载量,也依赖于载体CeO2的形貌.随着Cu担载量的增加, CuOx物种优先沉积在CeO2的表面缺陷位,然后聚集和长大;同时伴随着CuOx物种从孤立Cu离子到与载体强/弱相互作用的CuOx团簇,高分散Cu O颗粒和大尺寸Cu O颗粒.孤立Cu^+离子和与载体弱相互作用CuOx团簇主要形成于CeO2纳米立方体的表面,这可能与CeO2纳米立方体暴露的氧终止CeO2{100}晶面相关.CO吸附原位红外结果表明, CuOx团簇与不同CeO2表面相互作用的强度顺序为:CeO2纳米棒暴露的{110}面>CeO2纳米多面体暴露的{111}面>CeO2纳米立方体暴露的{100}面.CeO2纳米立方体与Cu2+离子间相互作用弱于与Cu^+之间的,因此CeO2纳米立方体负载的CuOx物种在CO还原过程中容易停留在稳定的Cu^+中间物种;而CeO2纳米棒与Cu2+离子之间的相互作用强于与Cu^+之间的相互作用,因此CeO2纳米棒负载的CuOx物种在CO还原过程中容易形成金属铜.因此CO吸附原位红外光谱观察到CeO2纳米立方体负载CuOx催化剂中吸附在Cu^+的CO物种远远多于CeO2纳米棒负载CuOx催化剂.CO氧化反应结果表明, CuOx/CeO2催化剂表现出同时依赖于CuOx物种结构和CeO2形貌的结构敏感性.CuOx/CeO2催化剂活性表现出与CuOx/CeO2催化剂的CO还原性能的正相关性,说明中CuOx/CeO2催化CO氧化反应遵循Mv K反应机理.这些结果系统地关联了CeO2形貌, CuOx-CeO2相互作用, CuOx物种结构和CeO2还原性能, CuOx/CeO2催化CO氧化反应活性.     

Nitrogen‐doped C60 as a robust catalyst for CO oxidation

The O₂ activation and CO oxidation on nitrogen‐doped C₅₉N fullerene are investigated using first‐principles calculations. The calculations indicate that the C₅₉N fullerene is able to activate O₂ molecules resulting in the formation of superoxide species ( ) both kinetically and thermodynamically. The active superoxide can further react with CO to form CO₂ via the Eley–Rideal mechanism by passing a stepwise reaction barrier of only 0.20 eV. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulation is carried out to evidence the feasibility of the Eley–Rideal mechanism. In addition, the second CO oxidation takes place with the remaining atomic O without any activation energy barrier. The full catalytic reaction cycles can occur energetically favorable and suggest a two‐step Eley–Rideal mechanism for CO oxidation with O₂ catalyzed by the C₅₉N fullerene. The catalytic properties of high percentage nitrogen‐doped fullerene (C₄₈N₁₂) is also examined. This work contributes to designing higher effective carbon‐based materials catalysts by a dependable theoretical insight into the catalytic properties of the nitrogen‐doped fullerene. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Time‐Resolved,In Situ DRIFTS/EDE/MS Studies on Alumina‐Supported Rhodium Catalysts: Effects of Ceriation and Zirconiation on Rhodium–CO Interactions

The effects of ceria and zirconia on the structure–function properties of supported rhodium catalysts (1.6 and 4 wt % Rh/γ‐Al₂O₃) during CO exposure are described. Ceria and zirconia are introduced through two preparation methods: 1) ceria is deposited on γ‐Al₂O₃ from [Ce(acac)₃] and rhodium metal is subsequently added, and 2) through the controlled surface modification (CSM) technique, which involves the decomposition of [M(acac)_x] (M=Ce, x=3; M=Zr, x=4) on Rh/γ‐Al₂O₃. The structure–function correlations of ceria and/or zirconia‐doped rhodium catalysts are investigated by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier‐transform spectroscopy/energy‐dispersive extended X‐ray absorption spectroscopy/mass spectrometry (DRIFTS/EDE/MS) under time‐resolved, in situ conditions. CeO_x and ZrO₂ facilitate the protection of Rh particles against extensive oxidation in air and CO. Larger Rh core particles of ceriated and zirconiated Rh catalysts prepared by CSM are observed and compared with Rh/γ‐Al₂O₃ samples, whereas supported Rh particles are easily disrupted by CO forming mononuclear Rh geminal dicarbonyl species. DRIFTS results indicate that, through the interaction of CO with ceriated Rh particles, a significantly larger amount of linear CO species form; this suggests the predominance of a metallic Rh phase.     

CO Oxidation Promoted by the Gold Dimer in Au2VO3− and Au2VO4− Clusters

Investigations on the reactivity of atomic clusters have led to the identification of the elementary steps involved in catalytic CO oxidation, a prototypical reaction in heterogeneous catalysis. The atomic oxygen species O^.? and O^2? bonded to early‐transition‐metal oxide clusters have been shown to oxidize CO. This study reports that when an Au₂ dimer is incorporated within the cluster, the molecular oxygen species O₂^2? bonded to vanadium can be activated to oxidize CO under thermal collision conditions. The gold dimer was doped into Au₂VO₄^? cluster ions which then reacted with CO in an ion‐trap reactor to produce Au₂VO₃^? and then Au₂VO₂^?. The dynamic nature of gold in terms of electron storage and release promotes CO oxidation and O? O bond reduction. The oxidation of CO by atomic clusters in this study parallels similar behavior reported for the oxidation of CO by supported gold catalysts.     

Oxidation‐induced nanostructures on Cu{100}, Cu(Ag) and Ag/Cu{100} studied by photoelectron spectroscopy

Initial surface oxidation and nanoscale morphology on Cu{100}, Cu(Ag) and Ag/Cu{100} have been investigated in situ by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X‐ray induced Auger electron spectroscopy (XAES) and the inelastic electron background analysis as a function of oxygen exposure at 3.7 × 10^?2 and 213 mbar pressures at a surface temperature of 373 K. Relative Cu₂O concentrations have been quantified by analysis of the peak shape of the XAES Cu LMM transition. The surface morphology of Cu₂O islands and the Ag layer has been characterized by inelastic electron background analysis of XAES O KLL and Ag 3d transitions. Oxygen‐induced segregation of Cu, as well as the subsequent Cu₂O island formation on Cu(Ag) and Ag/Cu{100} surfaces, has been investigated quantitatively. Our results indicate that Ag has a clear inhibitive effect on the initial oxidation and Cu₂O island formation on Cu(Ag) and Ag/Cu{100} surfaces. The Cu₂O islands are also observed to remain highly strained on Ag/Cu{100} even at higher O₂ exposures. The results suggest that strained Cu₂O islands eventually penetrate through the buried Ag layer, and in conjunction with segregating Cu atoms enable the oxidation to proceed at a similar rate to or even faster than on the unalloyed Cu surface. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multi‐Electron Oxygen Reduction by a Hybrid Visible‐Light‐Photocatalyst Consisting of Metal‐Oxide Semiconductor and Self‐Assembled Biomimetic Complex

Adsorption experiments and density functional theory (DFT) simulations indicated that Cu(acac)₂ is chemisorbed on the monoclinic sheelite (ms)‐BiVO₄ surface to form an O₂‐bridged binuclear complex (OBBC/BiVO₄) like hemocyanin. Multi‐electron reduction of O₂ is induced by the visible‐light irradiation of the OBBC/BiVO₄ in the same manner as a blue Cu enzyme. The drastic enhancement of the O₂ reduction renders ms‐BiVO₄ to work as a good visible‐light photocatalyst without any sacrificial reagents. As a model reaction, we show that this biomimetic hybrid photocatalyst exhibits a high level of activity for the aerobic oxidation of amines to aldehydes in aqueous solution and imines in THF solution at 25 °C giving selectivities above 99 % under visible‐light irradiation.     

Study of the effect of laser treatment on the initial oxidation behaviour of Al‐coated NiCrAlY bond‐coat

In this study, the initial oxidation behaviour of laser‐treated Al/NiCrAlY bond‐coat is investigated. Two approaches, (i) Al film sputtering on the surface of bond‐coat and (ii) laser treatment, have been taken to enhance the oxidation resistance of NiCrAlY bond‐coat. Experimental results showed that after laser treatment, the Al/NiCrAlY bond‐coat exhibited a columnar dendritic microstructure without cracks and voids. A dense and continuous α‐Al₂O₃/Cr₂O₃ multilayer was found to form on the bond‐coat surface. Results on the cyclic oxidation at 1200 °C (for time ≤ 204 h) revealed that the laser‐treated Al/NiCrAlY bond‐coat exhibited better oxidation resistance compared to as‐sprayed NiCrAlY, Al/NiCrAlY and laser‐remelted NiCrAlY bond‐coat. The formation of θ‐Al₂O₃, NiO, Cr₂O₃ and NiCr₂O₄ spinel oxides was observed to be suppressed due to the preformed α‐Al₂O₃ scale during initial oxidation on the surface of laser pre‐oxidized Al/NiCrAlY bond‐coat. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Changes in the surface structure of Pd/Ta2O5 by oxygen and CO studied using X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)

Behaviors of Pd structures with different thicknesses supported by Ta₂O₅/Ta in the reaction with oxygen and CO were studied by XPS and SEM. For the samples with a Pd thickness of 3 nm, a new low‐binding‐energy component appeared in the Pd 3d level upon O₂ exposure at ～200 °C and was reduced in intensity after a subsequent CO exposure at 150 and 200 °C. The change in the Ta 4f state could also be found upon oxygen and CO exposure, indicating that both Pd and the Ta‐oxide substrate participate in the chemical reactions. For the sample with a higher Pd thickness, a positive shift in the Pd 3d level due to the oxidation of Pd was observed after exposure to O₂ at a higher temperature (280 °C). A subsequent CO exposure at ～150 °C could not reduce Pd‐oxide layers, as confirmed by the unchanged Pd 3d spectra after CO treatment, i.e. Pd‐oxide was not reactive for CO oxidation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Comparative Study of CO Oxidation on Nitrogen‐ and Phosphorus‐Doped Graphene

The geometry, electronic structure, and catalytic properties of nitrogen‐ and phosphorus‐doped graphene (N‐/P‐graphene) are investigated by density functional theory calculations. The reaction between adsorbed O₂ and CO molecules on N‐ and P‐graphene is comparably studied via Langmuir–Hinshelwood (LH) and Eley–Rideal (ER) mechanisms. The results indicate that a two‐step process can occur, namely, CO+O₂→CO₂+O_ads and CO+O_ads→CO₂. The calculated energy barriers of the first step are 15.8 and 12.4 kcal mol^?1 for N‐ and P‐graphene, respectively. The second step of the oxidation reaction on N‐graphene proceeds with an energy barrier of about 4 kcal mol^?1. It is noteworthy that this reaction step was not observed on P‐graphene because of the strong binding of O_ads species on the P atoms. Thus, it can be concluded that low‐cost N‐graphene can be used as a promising green catalyst for low‐temperature CO oxidation.     

Bimetallic Ag‐Pt Sub‐nanometer Supported Clusters as Highly Efficient and Robust Oxidation Catalysts

A combined experimental and theoretical investigation of Ag‐Pt sub‐nanometer clusters as heterogeneous catalysts in the CO→CO₂ reaction (COox) is presented. Ag₉Pt₂ and Ag₉Pt₃ clusters are size‐selected in the gas phase, deposited on an ultrathin amorphous alumina support, and tested as catalysts experimentally under realistic conditions and by first‐principles simulations at realistic coverage. In situ GISAXS/TPRx demonstrates that the clusters do not sinter or deactivate even after prolonged exposure to reactants at high temperature, and present comparable, extremely high COox catalytic efficiency. Such high activity and stability are ascribed to a synergic role of Ag and Pt in ultranano‐aggregates, in which Pt anchors the clusters to the support and binds and activates two CO molecules, while Ag binds and activates O₂, and Ag/Pt surface proximity disfavors poisoning by CO or oxidized species.     

Strong Metal–Support Interactions between Copper and Iron Oxide during the High‐Temperature Water‐Gas Shift Reaction

The commercial high‐temperature water‐gas shift (HT‐WGS) catalyst consists of CuO‐Cr₂O₃‐Fe₂O₃, where Cu functions as a chemical promoter to increase the catalytic activity, but its promotion mechanism is poorly understood. In this work, a series of iron‐based model catalysts were investigated with in situ or pseudo in situ characterization, steady‐state WGS reaction, and density function theory (DFT) calculations. For the first time, a strong metal‐support interaction (SMSI) between Cu and FeO_x was directly observed. During the WGS reaction, a thin FeO_x overlayer migrates onto the metallic Cu particles, creating a hybrid surface structure with Cu‐FeO_x interfaces. The synergistic interaction between Cu and FeO_x not only stabilizes the Cu clusters, but also provides new catalytic active sites that facilitate CO adsorption, H₂O dissociation, and WGS reaction. These new fundamental insights can potentially guide the rational design of improved iron‐based HT‐WGS catalysts.     

Semiconductor/Covalent‐Organic‐Framework Z‐Scheme Heterojunctions for Artificial Photosynthesis

A strategy to covalently connect crystalline covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with semiconductors to create stable organic–inorganic Z‐scheme heterojunctions for artificial photosynthesis is presented. A series of COF–semiconductor Z‐scheme photocatalysts combining water‐oxidation semiconductors (TiO₂, Bi₂WO₆, and α‐Fe₂O₃) with CO₂ reduction COFs (COF‐316/318) was synthesized and exhibited high photocatalytic CO₂‐to‐CO conversion efficiencies (up to 69.67 μmol g^?1 h^?1), with H₂O as the electron donor in the gas–solid CO₂ reduction, without additional photosensitizers and sacrificial agents. This is the first report of covalently bonded COF/inorganic‐semiconductor systems utilizing the Z‐scheme applied for artificial photosynthesis. Experiments and calculations confirmed efficient semiconductor‐to‐COF electron transfer by covalent coupling, resulting in electron accumulation in the cyano/pyridine moieties of the COF for CO₂ reduction and holes in the semiconductor for H₂O oxidation, thus mimicking natural photosynthesis.     

An Unprecedented‐Type Intramolecular Redox Reaction of Solid Tetraamminecopper(2+) Bis(permanganate) ([Cu(NH3)4](MnO4)2) – A Low‐Temperature Synthesis of Copper Dimanganese Tetraoxide‐Type (CuMn2O4) Nanocrystalline Catalyst Precursors

Tetraamminecopper(2+) bis(permanganate) ([Cu(NH₃)₄](MnO₄)₂; 1 ) was prepared, and its properties were studied in both aqueous solution and the solid phase. The presence of H‐bond interactions between the ammonia ligand of the complex cation and an O‐atom of the permanganate ion was detected by IR and Raman methods. The solid‐phase thermal deammoniation of 1 led to an unusual intramolecular redox reaction between the Mn O⋅⋅⋅H N linkage with formation of NH₄NO₃ and CuMn₂O₄‐type mixed oxides instead of stepwise deammoniation, even below 100°. The thermal deammoniation of 1 in aqueous solution led, instead of to hydrated copper(2+) bis(permanganate), to the formation of NH₄MnO₄ ( 2 ). Since the temperature of the thermal deammoniation of 1 is lower than the decomposition temperature of the permanganate ion, the regulated solid‐phase decomposition of 1 allowed preparation of CuMn₂O₄‐type oxides with mixing of copper and manganese at the atomic level.     

Cu‐Based Catalyst Resulting from a Cu,Zn,Al Hydrotalcite‐Like Compound: A Microstructural,Thermoanalytical, and In Situ XAS Study

A Cu‐based methanol synthesis catalyst was obtained from a phase pure Cu,Zn,Al hydrotalcite‐like precursor, which was prepared by co‐precipitation. This sample was intrinsically more active than a conventionally prepared Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalyst. Upon thermal decomposition in air, the [(Cu_0.5Zn_0.17Al_0.33)(OH)₂(CO₃)_0.17] ? mH₂O precursor is transferred into a carbonate‐modified, amorphous mixed oxide. The calcined catalyst can be described as well‐dispersed “CuO” within ZnAl₂O₄ still containing stabilizing carbonate with a strong interaction of Cu²⁺ ions with the Zn–Al matrix. The reduction of this material was carefully analyzed by complementary temperature‐programmed reduction (TPR) and near‐edge X‐ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) measurements. The results fully describe the reduction mechanism with a kinetic model that can be used to predict the oxidation state of Cu at given reduction conditions. The reaction proceeds in two steps through a kinetically stabilized Cu^I intermediate. With reduction, a nanostructured catalyst evolves with metallic Cu particles dispersed in a ZnAl₂O₄ spinel‐like matrix. Due to the strong interaction of Cu and the oxide matrix, the small Cu particles (7 nm) of this catalyst are partially embedded leading to lower absolute activity in comparison with a catalyst comprised of less‐embedded particles. Interestingly, the exposed Cu surface area exhibits a superior intrinsic activity, which is related to a positive effect of the interface contact of Cu and its surroundings.