A Mechanistic Study of the Multiple Roles of Oleic Acid in the Oil-Phase Synthesis of Pt Nanocrystals

Oleic acid (OAc) is commonly used as a surfactant and/or solvent for the oil-phase synthesis of metal nanocrystals but its explicit roles are yet to be resolved. Here, we report a systematic study of this problem by focusing on a synthesis that simply involves heating of Pt(acac)₂ in OAc for the generation of Pt nanocrystals. When heated at 80 °C, the ligand exchange between Pt(acac)₂ and OAc leads to the formation of a Pt^II–oleate complex that serves as the actual precursor to Pt atoms. Upon increasing the temperature to 120 °C, the decarbonylation of OAc produces CO, which can act as a reducing agent for the generation of Pt atoms and thus formation of nuclei. Afterwards, several catalytic reactions can take place on the surface of the Pt nuclei to produce more CO, which also serves as a capping agent for the formation of Pt nanocrystals enclosed by {100} facets. The emergence of Pt nanocrystals further promotes the autocatalytic surface reduction of Pt^II precursor to enable the continuation of growth. This work not only elucidates the critical roles of OAc at different stages in a synthesis of Pt nanocrystals, but also represents a pivotal step forward toward the rational synthesis of metal nanocrystals.     

Metal‐Nitrogen‐doped Porous Carbons Derived from Metal‐Containing Ionic Liquids for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

This study describes a self‐doping and additive‐free strategy for the synthesis of metal‐nitrogen‐doped porous carbon materials (CMs) via carbonizing well‐tailored precursors, metal‐containing ionic liquids (M‐ILs). The organic skeleton in M‐ILs serves as both carbon and nitrogen sources, while metal ions acts as porogen and metallic dopants. A high nitrogen content, appropriate content of metallic species and hierarchical porosity synergistically endow the resultant CMs (MIBA‐M‐T) as effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). MIBA‐Fe‐900 with a high specific surface area of 1567 m² g^?1 exhibits an activity similar to that of Pt/C catalyst, a higher tolerance to methanol than Pt/C, and long‐term durability. This work supplies a simple and convenient route for the preparation of metal‐containing carbon electrocatalysts.     

Fabrication of Conductive Polypyrrole Doped Chitosan Thin Film for Sensitive Detection of Sulfite in Real Food and Biological Samples

In this study, we reported electrochemical synthesis of conductive polypyrrole‐chitosan (PPY‐CHI) thin film for sensitive detection of sulfite in real samples. The synthesized PPY‐CHI film was characterized in terms of surface morphology, optical property, binding energy, conductivity and electrochemical properties. The synthesized copolymeric PPY‐CHI film displayed good electrocatalytic behaviour towards oxidation of sulfite. The synthesized PPY‐CHI film was used for sulfite detection using differential pulse voltammetric technique with detection limit, sensitivity and linearity of 0.21 μM (S/N=3), 15.28 μA μM cm^?2 and 50–1100 μM respectively. In addition, the current responses of PPY‐CHI film towards sulfite were repeatable, reproducible response and unaffected by selected electroactive interferents. Finally, the synthesized PPY‐CHI was successfully and satisfactorily applied for determination of sulfite in real food and biological samples. The results obtained from this study highly placed PPY‐CHI film as a promising sensor for sensitive and accurate detection of sulfite in food and biological samples for human health protection.     

Electrochemical Synthesis of Tetrahexahedral Rhodium Nanocrystals with Extraordinarily High Surface Energy and High Electrocatalytic Activity

Noble metal nanocrystals (NCs) enclosed with high‐index facets hold a high catalytic activity thanks to the high density of low‐coordinated step atoms that they exposed on their surface. Shape‐control synthesis of the metal NCs with high‐index facets presents a big challenge owing to the high surface energy of the NCs, and the shape control for metal Rh is even more difficult because of its extraordinarily high surface energy in comparison with Pt, Pd, and Au. The successful synthesis is presented of tetrahexahedral Rh NCs (THH Rh NCs) enclosed by {830} high‐index facets through the dynamic oxygen adsorption/desorption mediated by square‐wave potential. The results demonstrate that the THH Rh NCs exhibit greatly enhanced catalytic activity over commercial Rh black catalyst for the electrooxidation of ethanol and CO.     

保护剂对K2PtCl6为前体合成纳米铂形状的影响

纳米粒子的性质不仅受到尺寸的影响，还与其形状密切相关，由于铂在催化及材料等领域中有重要应用，因此化学合成特定形状的纳米铂一直备受关注，具有特定表面结构的纳米粒子对于研究催化活性与表面原子结构的关系具有重要意义，目前立方体形状纳米铂已被合成，但高比例四面体形状纳米铂的合成研究很少有报道，     

Platinum(II) and Palladium(II) Bis(chelate) Complexes Containing both Tri(1‐cyclohepta‐2, 4, 6‐trienyl)phosphane,P(C7H7)3, and Dichalcogenolato Ligands

Tri(1‐cyclohepta‐2, 4, 6‐trienyl)phosphane, P(C₇H₇)₃ ([P] when coordinated to a metal atom), was used to stabilize complexes of platinum(II) and palladium(II) with chelating dichalcogenolato ligands as [P]M(E∩E) [E = S, ∩ = CH₂CH₂, M = Pt ( 3a ); E = S, ∩ = 1, 2‐C₆H₄, M = Pt ( 5a ), Pd ( 6a ); E = S, ∩ = C(O)C(O), M = Pt ( 7a ), Pd ( 8a ); E = S, Se, ∩ = 1, 2‐C₂(B₁₀H₁₀), M = Pt ( 9a, 9b ), Pd ( 10a, 10b ); E = S, ∩ = Fe₂(CO)₆, M = Pt ( 11a ), Pd ( 12a )]. Starting materials in all reactions were [P]MCl₂ with M = Pt ( 1 ) and Pd ( 2 ). Attempts at the synthesis of [P]M(ER)₂ with non‐chelating chalcogenolato ligands were not successful. All new complexes were characterized by multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in solution (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, ⁷⁷Se and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR), and the molecular structures of 5a and 12a were determined by X‐ray analysis. Both in the solid state and in solution the ligand [P] is linked to the metal atom by the P‐M bond and by η²‐C=C coordination of the central C=C bond of one of the C₇H₇ rings. In solution, intramolecular exchange between coordinated and non‐coordinated C₇H₇ rings is observed, the exchange process being markedly faster in the case of M = Pd than for M = Pt.     

Homoleptic Platinum(II) and Palladium(II) Organothiolates and Phenylselenolates: Solvothermal Synthesis,Structural Determination,Optical Properties,and Single‐Source Precursors for PdSe and PdS Nanocrystals

Homoleptic d⁸‐metal organothiolates and phenylselenolates [M(EC₆H₅)₂]_∞ (E=S, M=Pt 1 , M=Pd 2 , M=Ni 5 ; E=Se, M=Pt 3 , M=Pd 4 ) were prepared as crystalline solids under solvothermal conditions. Their structures were solved using powder X‐ray diffraction data. In each case, the EC₆H₅ (E=S, Se) ligand binds to two metal ions (M=Pt, Pd, and Ni) to form chain‐like structures with planar (in 1 ) or zig‐zag (in 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) conformations. The [M(SR)₂]_∞ complexes (M=Pt, R=4‐tert‐butylphenyl 6 ; R=2‐naphthyl 8 ; R=4‐nitrophenyl 10 and M=Pd, R=4‐tert‐butylphenyl 7 ; R=2‐naphthyl 9 ; R=4‐nitrophenyl 11 ) were prepared under similar solvothermal conditions. Based on the XPS binding energies and elemental analyses, complexes 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 have the same [M(SR)₂]_∞ formulation as 1 and 2 . The cyclic complex [Pd₆(SCH₃)₁₂] 12 was prepared as a crystalline solid by solvothermal annealing treatment of the amorphous precipitate. A chain‐like polymer structure is proposed for both [Pd(SC₁₂H₂₅)₂]_∞ 13 and [Pd(SC₁₆H₃₃)₂]_∞ 14 ; these polymeric chains self‐assemble to give layer‐like structures. Solid‐state diffuse reflectance spectra reveal that the optical band gap E_g (eV) of complexes 1 , 6 , 8 , 10 and of 2 , 7 , 9 , 11 are in the range of 2.10–3.00 eV and 2.10–2.63 eV, respectively, and 5 has the lowest E_g value (1.72 eV). Heating solid samples of 4 and 13 under solvothermal conditions afforded phase‐pure Pd₁₇Se₁₅ and PdS nanocrystals, respectively. Field‐effect transistors fabricated with a drop‐cast thin film made from Pd₁₇Se₁₅ nanocrystals prior treated with an ethanolic solution of 1‐hexadecanethiol displayed ambipolar charge transporting properties with hole and electron mobility being 7×10^?2 cm² V^?1 s^?1 and 6×10^?2 cm² V^?1 s^?1, respectively.     

5‐(2‐Mercaptoethyl)‐1H‐tetrazole: Facile Synthesis and Application for the Preparation of Water Soluble Nanocrystals and Their Gels

A facile method for the preparation of the novel capping ligand 5‐(2‐mercaptoethyl)‐1H‐tetrazole for the stabilization of water‐soluble nanocrystals was developed. This effective synthetic procedure is based on the cycloaddition of sodium azide to 3,3′‐dithiobis(propionitrile) followed by the reductive cleavage of a S?S bond with triphenylphosphine. The structure of the synthesized compound was confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. A target tetrazole was successfully applied for the direct aqueous synthesis of CdTe and Au nanocrystals. CdTe nanocrystals capped with 5‐(2‐mercaptoethyl)‐1H‐tetrazole were found to reveal high photoluminescence efficiencies (up to 77 %). Nanocrystals capped with this tetrazole ligand are able to build 3D structures in a metal‐ion‐assisted gelation process in aqueous solution. Critical point drying of the as‐formed hydrogels allowed the preparation of the corresponding aerogels, while preserving the mesoporous structure.     

A Theoretical Investigation into the Luminescent Properties of d8‐Transition‐Metal Complexes with Tetradentate Schiff Base Ligands

A theoretical investigation on the luminescence efficiency of a series of d⁸ transition‐metal Schiff base complexes was undertaken. The aim was to understand the different photophysics of [M‐salen]ⁿ complexes (salen=N,N′‐bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine; M=Pt, Pd (n=0); Au (n=+1)) in acetonitrile solutions at room temperature: [Pt‐salen] is phosphorescent and [Au‐salen]⁺ is fluorescent, but [Pd‐salen] is nonemissive. Based on the calculation results, it was proposed that incorporation of electron‐withdrawing groups at the 4‐position of the Schiff base ligand should widen the ³MLCT–³MC gap (MLCT=metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer and MC=metal centered, that is, the dd excited state); thus permitting phosphorescence of the corresponding Pd^II Schiff base complex. Although it is experimentally proven that [Pd‐salph‐4E] (salph=N,N′‐bis(salicylidene)‐1,2‐phenylenediamine; 4E means an electron‐withdrawing substituent at the 4‐position of the salicylidene) displays triplet emission, its quantum yield is low at room temperature. The corresponding Pt^II Schiff base complex, [Pt‐salph‐4E], is also much less emissive than the unsubstituted analogue, [Pt‐salph]. Thus, a detailed theoretical analysis of how the substituent and central metal affected the photophysics of [M‐salph‐X] (X is a substituent on the salph ligand, M=Pt or Pd) was performed. Temperature effects were also investigated. The simple energy gap law underestimated the nonradiative decay rates and was insufficient to account for the temperature dependence of the nonradiative decay rates of the complexes studied herein. On the other hand, the present analysis demonstrates that inclusions of low‐frequency modes and the associated frequency shifts are decisive in providing better quantitative estimates of the nonradiative decay rates and the experimentally observed temperature effects. Moreover, spin–orbit coupling, which is often considered only in the context of radiative decay rate, has a significant role in determining the nonradiative rate as well.     

Highly Stable,Water‐Dispersible Metal‐Nanoparticle‐Decorated Polymer Nanocapsules and Their Catalytic Applications

A facile synthesis of highly stable, water‐dispersible metal‐nanoparticle‐decorated polymer nanocapsules (M@CB‐PNs: M=Pd, Au, and Pt) was achieved by a simple two‐step process employing a polymer nanocapsule (CB‐PN) made of cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) and metal salts. The CB‐PN serves as a versatile platform where various metal nanoparticles with a controlled size can be introduced on the surface and stabilized to prepare new water‐dispersible nanostructures useful for many applications. The Pd nanoparticles on CB‐PN exhibit high stability and dispersibility in water as well as excellent catalytic activity and recyclability in carbon–carbon and carbon–nitrogen bond‐forming reactions in aqueous medium suggesting potential applications as a green catalyst.     

Highly Stable,Water‐Dispersible Metal‐Nanoparticle‐Decorated Polymer Nanocapsules and Their Catalytic Applications

A facile synthesis of highly stable, water‐dispersible metal‐nanoparticle‐decorated polymer nanocapsules (M@CB‐PNs: M=Pd, Au, and Pt) was achieved by a simple two‐step process employing a polymer nanocapsule (CB‐PN) made of cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) and metal salts. The CB‐PN serves as a versatile platform where various metal nanoparticles with a controlled size can be introduced on the surface and stabilized to prepare new water‐dispersible nanostructures useful for many applications. The Pd nanoparticles on CB‐PN exhibit high stability and dispersibility in water as well as excellent catalytic activity and recyclability in carbon–carbon and carbon–nitrogen bond‐forming reactions in aqueous medium suggesting potential applications as a green catalyst.     

前驱体水解对纳米铂形状控制合成的影响

以聚丙烯酸钠(NaPA: M_w ≈ 2100)为保护剂，对比研究了H_2还原K_2PtCl_4 和K_2PtCl_6水溶液制备纳米铂晶粒的形状选择性，揭示了前驱体的水解对纳米铂 晶粒的形状控制合成具有显著影响。文献中通常采用的合成立方形状纳米铂的 K_2PtCl_4前驱体在水溶液中不稳定，避光静置一周会析出黑色沉淀。这种不稳定 性导致了以K_2PtCl_4为Pt前驱体的合成结果难以重复。相比而言，避光静墨的 K_2PtCl_6水溶液很稳定，以它为前驱体合成的纳米铂通常为削角八面体。 K_2PtCl_6水溶液暴露于室内光线中会出现[PtCl_6]~(-2)的光致水解。当[PtCl_6] ~(2-)的紫外特征吸收峰(260nm)由于光致水解完全消失后，以聚丙烯酸钠为保护剂 ，通过H_2还原可以有选择性地(约80%)合成由{100}晶面包裹的立方体形状的纳米 铂。     

Pt nanocrystals: shape control and Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer formation

We report the synthesis of monodisperse Pt nanocrystals with three different shapes-cubes, cuboctahedra, and octahedra, selectively, with similar sizes of 9-10 nm by a modified polyol process. We found that addition of silver ion enhances the crystal growth rate along 100, and essentially determines the shape and surface structure of the Pt nanocrystals. After the reaction, the silver species can be easily removed by repetitive precipitation giving pure Pt nanoparticles. Two-dimensional arrays of the Pt nanocrystals were assembled by using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method. The particles were evenly distributed on the entire substrate, and their surface coverage and density can be precisely controlled by tuning the surface pressure. The resulting Pt LB layers are potential candidates for 2-D model catalysts as a result of their high surface area and the structural uniformity of the metal nanocrystals.     

One-Pot Synthesis of Pd@PtnL Core-Shell Icosahedral Nanocrystals in High Throughput through a Quantitative Analysis of the Reduction Kinetics

The rational design and implementation of a one-pot method is reported for the facile synthesis of Pd@Pt_nL (nL denotes the number of Pt atomic layers) core-shell icosahedral nanocrystals in a single step. The success of this method relies on the use of Na₂PdCl₄ and Pt(acac)₂ as the precursors to Pd and Pt atoms, respectively. Our quantitative analysis of the reduction kinetics indicates that the Pd^II and Pt^II precursors are sequentially reduced with a major gap between the two events. Specifically, the Pd^II precursor is reduced first, leading to the formation of Pd-based icosahedral seeds with a multiply-twinned structure. In contrast, the Pt^II precursor prefers to take a surface reduction pathway on the just-formed icosahedral seeds. As such, the otherwise extremely slow reduction of the Pt^II precursor can be dramatically accelerated through an autocatalytic process for the deposition of Pt atoms as a conformal shell on each Pd icosahedral core. Compared to the conventional approach of seed-mediated growth, the throughput for the one-pot synthesis of Pd@Pt_nL core-shell nanocrystals can be increased by more than 30-fold. When used as catalysts, the Pd@Pt_4.5L core-shell icosahedral nanocrystals show specific and mass activities of 0.83 mA cm⁻² and 0.39 A mg_Pt⁻¹, respectively, at 0.9 V toward oxygen reduction. The Pt-based nanocages derived from the core-shell nanocrystals also show enhanced specific (1.45 mA cm⁻²) and mass activities (0.75 A mg_Pt⁻¹) at 0.9 V, which are 3.8 and 3.3 times greater than those of the commercial Pt/C, respectively.     

一氧化碳辅助钯、铂纳米晶的形貌控制

形貌控制对调控贵金属纳米晶的催化和光学性能至关重要．近年来,在发展铂、钯纳米晶的形貌控制的方法过程中,一氧化碳（CO）不仅作为合成铂、钯纳米晶的优良还原剂,还可通过在特定晶面的选择性吸附辅助铂、钯纳米晶的形貌控制．CO辅助铂、钯纳米晶形貌控制的方法正逐步展现出独特的优越性,甚至帮助我们制备了一些目前其他方法所无法制备的纳米晶．该综述文章首先从表面科学的角度分析讨论CO分子在铂、钯单晶面上的不同吸附行为,然后总结分析了CO调控铂、钯纳米晶形貌的几个典型例子（超薄钯纳米片、介晶钯纳米花、钯四角叉／四面体以及铂纳米立方体、铂钴削角八面体）,讨论了CO在控制铂、钯纳米晶的形貌控制作用及其化学本质,最后提出CO在辅助贵金属纳米晶的形貌控制中的挑战和展望．     

Aqueous‐Phase Synthesis of Single‐Crystal Pd Seeds 3 nm in Diameter and Their Use for the Growth of Pd Nanocrystals with Different Shapes

This article describes an aqueous method for the synthesis of Pd seeds with a single‐crystal structure and a uniform diameter of 3 nm and their use for the growth of Pd nanocrystals with a variety of shapes. We have also investigated the effects of a number of parameters, including the temperature, reducing power of the reductant, and capping agent on the reduction rate of a Pd precursor, and thus the final size, size distribution, and morphology of the Pd seeds. By taking advantage of the coordination effect of Br^? ions with Pd²⁺ ions and their selective adsorption on the Pd(100) surface, Pd nanocrystals with a number of distinct shapes could be conveniently produced by varying the concentration of KBr added into the growth solution. This work provides a general and facile method for the green synthesis of Pd nanocrystals with controlled shapes, especially for the preparation of Pd nanocrystals with sizes in the sub‐10 nm regime.     

高指数晶面纳米催化剂的电化学制备及应用

催化剂的性能与其表面结构及组成密切相关,高指数晶面纳米晶的表面含有高密度的台阶原子等活性位点而表现出较高的催化活性. 本文综述了电化学方波电位方法用于Pt、Pd、Rh等贵金属高指数晶面结构纳米晶催化剂的制备、形成机理及其电催化性能的研究. 针对贵金属利用率问题,还着重介绍了具有较高质量活性的小粒径Pt二十四面体的制备. 在此基础上,还介绍了电化学方波电位方法用于低共熔溶剂中制备高指数晶面纳米晶,以及高指数晶面纳米催化剂的表面修饰及应用;最后对高指数晶面纳米催化剂的发展做出了展望.     

A Double‐Passivation Water‐Based Galvanic Displacement Method for Reproducible Gram‐Scale Production of High‐Performance Platinum‐Alloy Electrocatalysts

Preparation of large quantities of high‐performance supported Pt‐alloy electrocatalysts is crucial for the faster development and implementation of low‐temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). One of the prospective nanofabrication synthesis methods is based on the galvanic displacement (GD) reaction. A facile, highly reproducible, gram scale, water‐based double passivation GD method is now presented for the synthesis of carbon‐supported Pt‐M nanoparticles (M=Cu, Ni, Co). It offers great flexibility over the catalyst design, such as the choice of the sacrificial metal (M), variation of the chemical composition of alloy, variation of total metal loading (Pt+M) on carbon support, or even variation of the carbon support itself. The obtained Pt‐alloy catalysts are several times more active compared to a Pt reference and exhibits better stability during accelerated degradation tests performed at 60 °C.     

Amine-assisted synthesis of concave polyhedral platinum nanocrystals having {411} high-index facets

High-index surfaces of a face-centered cubic metal (e.g., Pd, Pt) have a high density of low-coordinated surface atoms and therefore possess enhanced catalysis activity in comparison with low-index faces. However, because of their high surface energy, the challenge of chemically preparing metal nanocrystals having high-index facets remains. We demonstrate in this work that introducing amines as the surface controller allows concave Pt nanocrystals having {411} high-index facets to be prepared through a facile wet-chemical route. The as-prepared Pt nanocrystals display a unique octapod morphology with {411} facets. The presence of high-index {411} exposed facets endows the concave Pt nanocrystals with excellent electrocatalytic activity in the oxidation of both formic acid and ethanol.     

Metal Ions Induce Growth and Magnetism Alternation of α‐Fe2O3 Crystals Bound by High‐Index Facets

In this study, quasi‐cubic and hexagonal bipyramid α‐Fe₂O₃ polyhedrons with high‐index facets exposed were controllably synthesized by applying metal ions Zn²⁺ or Cu²⁺ as structure‐directing agents. The growth of the α‐Fe₂O₃ nanostructures with high‐index facets were induced by metal ions without the addition of any other surfactants. The quasi‐cubic form controlled by Zn²⁺ looks like a cube but has an angle of approximately 86° bound by (012), (10‐2), and (1‐12) facets, whereas the hexagonal bipyramid form controlled by Cu²⁺ has a sixfold axis bound by {012} facets. Magnetic measurements confirm that these two kinds of nanocrystals display shape‐ and surface‐dependent magnetic behaviors. The hexagonal bipyramid iron oxide nanocrystals show a lower Morin transition temperature of 240 K and might be spin‐canted ferromagnetically controlled at room temperature, and the ferromagnetism disappears at low temperature. The quasi‐cubic nanocrystals have a splitting between FC curve and ZFC curve from the highest experimental temperature and no Morin transformation occurs; this indicates that they would be defect ferromagnetically controlled at low temperature. The reported metal‐ion‐directing technique could provide a universal method for shape‐ and surface‐controlled synthesis of nanocrystals with high‐index facets exposed.