Surface Capping Agents and Their Roles in Shape‐Controlled Synthesis of Colloidal Metal Nanocrystals

Surface capping agents have been extensively used to control the evolution of seeds into nanocrystals with diverse but well‐controlled shapes. Here we offer a comprehensive review of these agents, with a focus on the mechanistic understanding of their roles in guiding the shape evolution of metal nanocrystals. We begin with a brief introduction to the early history of capping agents in electroplating and bulk crystal growth, followed by discussion of how they affect the thermodynamics and kinetics involved in a synthesis of metal nanocrystals. We then present representative examples to highlight the various capping agents, including their binding selectivity, molecular‐level interaction with a metal surface, and impacts on the growth of metal nanocrystals. We also showcase progress in leveraging capping agents to generate nanocrystals with complex structures and/or enhance their catalytic properties. Finally, we discuss various strategies for the exchange or removal of capping agents, together with perspectives on future directions.     

轻元素调控的贵金属催化剂在能源相关领域的应用

贵金属广泛用于多相催化研究,对于诸多具有重要科学意义和工业应用价值的化学反应展现出优异的催化活性和选择性.引入轻合金元素(如C,H,B和N),可以调控贵金属的晶体结构和电子性质,是进一步提高贵金属催化性能的重要策略.与传统的金属合金催化剂相比,这种轻元素合金化的催化剂具有一些独特性:(1)轻元素由于原子尺寸很小,容易溶于金属晶格的间隙位点;(2)一些轻元素(如C,N和S)的电负性与金属的差别很大,能够在相邻原子间引起较大的电荷转移;(3)轻元素-金属合金中的电子相互作用主要由金属的d轨道和轻元素的sp轨道杂化主导,这与金属合金中的d-d轨道杂化显著不同.这些独特性为贵金属原子结构和电子结构的调控以及催化性能的优化带来了更多的可能性.轻合金元素研究的主要瓶颈在于其原子尺寸小、分布不均匀、难以直接观察和精准控制,从而限制了对活性提升机制和构效关系的研究.近几十年来,纳米合成技术和材料表征技术的长足发展使得轻合金元素改性的催化剂研究渐入佳境.此外,计算化学在结构分析和催化应用中的日趋成熟为揭示轻合金元素对贵金属晶体结构、电子结构和催化性质的调控作用提供了有力工具.本文综述了引入轻合金元素改性的贵金属催化剂在不同催化应用中的主要研究进展,总结了贵金属催化性能的主要影响因素(包括轻合金元素的种类、位置、浓度和有序度等),阐述了轻合金原子如何影响催化反应性能,介绍了轻元素的实验引入策略以及揭示轻元素合金效应的实验表征和理论研究方法.重点讨论了不同轻合金原子改性的贵金属基催化剂在催化反应中的广泛应用,并试图建立其结构特征与催化性能之间的密切联系.总的来说,轻合金原子的活性调控作用主要表现在以下几个方面:(1)晶相转变:轻元素的引入能够改变金属原子的堆积模式,产生有利于催化反应的晶相结构;(2)电荷转移:轻元素和母体金属的电负性差异能够导致电荷重新分布,影响金属的电子结构;(3)应力效应:轻元素的引入会导致金属晶格膨胀,产生拉伸应力,引起电子结构变化;(4)配体效应:轻元素的sp轨道和金属的d轨道杂化,引起d带中心下移,降低表面吸附性质;(5)集团效应:轻元素的引入能够孤立金属原子,产生特定的表面金属位点,有利于促进催化反应;(6)次表面化学:在氢相关的催化反应中,次表面的间隙轻元素能够阻止氢的渗入,抑制活性衰减或不利的副反应发生.最后,本文对于当前该领域存在的挑战和未来的发展前景进行了分析,以期促进该合金体系的合成、理解和催化应用,内容包括:(1)开发更精确可控的轻元素掺入策略;(2)合理阐明轻合金元素与宏观催化性能之间的关系;(3)发展新型的轻元素改性催化剂;(4)扩展轻元素改性催化剂的催化应用范围.     

分子筛限域金属纳米粒子及其氧化还原反应应用的研究进展

沸石分子筛是一类孔隙均匀、结晶度高、结构多样、比表面积大的材料,在催化、分离、吸附等方面得到了广泛的应用。沸石分子筛已被证明是金属纳米粒子(MNPs)的理想载体。金属纳米粒子@沸石分子筛催化剂不仅表现出优异的催化活性,而且具有较高的稳定性和择形催化性。此外,限域的金属纳米粒子与具有活性位点的纳米孔骨架的协同作用可以进一步提高复合催化剂的催化活性。金属纳米粒子@沸石分子筛催化剂由于具有较高的活性、择形性和热稳定性等优点,在工业相关应用中引起了人们的极大关注。本文综述了金属纳米粒子@沸石分子筛催化剂的研究进展,重点介绍了多种合成方法以及其在氢化和氧化反应中的应用进展。指出了金属纳米粒子@沸石分子筛催化剂领域存在的问题和挑战并对其未来发展进行展望。     

石墨烯基催化剂的设计合成与电催化应用

为了解决能源匮乏和环境污染的问题,研究人员正致力于寻找清洁可持续的新能源。 其中,氧气还原、氧气析出、析氢反应等是紧密联系新型清洁能源获取和存贮的重要电化学反应。 为了提高其能量转化效率,电催化剂(如碳载铂Pt/C)被广泛地用于降低其反应活化能、提高能量转化效率。 近年来,石墨烯作为一种具有高比表面积和优异导电性的二维碳材料受到了广泛关注。 通过表面杂原子掺杂、缺陷调控和引入催化活性组分等方式,获得了催化性能与贵金属催化剂相媲美,且低价格和高稳定性的非贵金属石墨烯基催化材料。 针对氧气还原、氧气析出和析氢反应在燃料电池、金属-空气电池和电催化水分解中的应用,本文概括综述了通过表/界面结构性质调控提高石墨烯电催化性能和稳定性,获得具有双功能或复合催化性能的石墨烯基催化剂的最新研究进展。 最后总结和展望了亟待解决的问题及未来的发展趋势。     

Supported Rhodium Catalysts for Ammonia–Borane Hydrolysis: Dependence of the Catalytic Activity on the Highest Occupied State of the Single Rhodium Atoms

Supported metal nanocrystals have exhibited remarkable catalytic performance in hydrogen generation reactions, which is influenced and even determined by their supports. Accordingly, it is of fundamental importance to determine the direct relationship between catalytic performance and metal–support interactions. Herein, we provide a quantitative profile for exploring metal–support interactions by considering the highest occupied state in single‐atom catalysts. The catalyst studied consisted of isolated Rh atoms dispersed on the surface of VO₂ nanorods. It was observed that the activation energy of ammonia–borane hydrolysis changed when the substrate underwent a phase transition. Mechanistic studies indicate that the catalytic performance depended directly on the highest occupied state of the single Rh atoms, which was determined by the band structure of the substrates. Other metal catalysts, even with non‐noble metals, that exhibited significant catalytic activity towards NH₃BH₃ hydrolysis were rationally designed by adjusting their highest occupied states.     

Synthesis of a Gold–Metal Oxide Core–Satellite Nanostructure for In Situ SERS Study of CuO‐Catalyzed Photooxidation

This work reports on an assembling–calcining method for preparing gold–metal oxide core–satellite nanostructures, which enable surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopic detection of chemical reactions on metal oxide nanoparticles. By using the nanostructure, we study the photooxidation of Si?H catalyzed by CuO nanoparticles. As evidenced by the in situ spectroscopic results, oxygen vacancies of CuO are found to be very active sites for oxygen activation, and hydroxide radicals (*OH) adsorbed at the catalytic sites are likely to be the reactive intermediates that trigger the conversion from silanes into the corresponding silanols. According to our finding, oxygen vacancy‐rich CuO catalysts are confirmed to be of both high activity and selectivity in photooxidation of various silanes.     

A New Concept for Advanced Heterogeneous Metal Catalysts

Oxide-supported metal catalysts, having always nano-sized structures in which the metal catalysts are prepared as highly dispersed nano-crystals (typically 1-20 nm) on support oxide particles that are often one to several orders of magnitude larger than the metal nano-particles, are an important class of heterogeneous metal catalysts that finds many applications in chemical/petrochemical industries, in environmental protection, in chemical sensors and in the manufacture of fine and special chemicals. It is believed that catalysis by supported metals is the oldest application of nanotechnology. The literature has been rich in nano-size effect of metal nanoparticles in the metal/oxide catalysts. However, it is until recently that the development of size-controlled synthesis of oxide nanoparticles has made it possible to study the nano-size effect of oxide-support particles. When the particle sizes of an oxide support are reduced to become comparable to the sizes of the active metal nanoparticles, the oxide could deviate dramatically from its function as a conventional support. Such metal/oxide catalysts consisting of comparably sized metal and oxide nanocrystals are better called metal/oxide nanocomposite catalysts or catalytic nanoarchitectures.In this presentation, several attempts with reducing the particle size of oxide supports (ZrO2, TiO2,MgO, Al2O3) to approach the metal/oxide nanocomposite concept will be discussed to emphasize the importance of the support size effect. Examples will be given on characteristics of nanocomposite Ni/oxide catalysts for the reforming of natural gas with CO2 and/or steam, and on Au/oxide catalysts for CO oxidation and hydrogenation of unsaturated organic compounds. It will be emphasized that systematic investigations into the size effects of both the metal and oxide nanoparticles approaching the metal/oxide nanocomposite concept can lead to advanced heterogeneous metal catalysts.Moreover, intensive practice of the nanocomposite concept would also lead to discovery of special size-dependent metal-oxide interaction and catalysis, which may provide new opportunity for performance enhancement of potential and existing catalysts.     

Pd–Pb Alloy Nanocrystals with Tailored Composition for Semihydrogenation: Taking Advantage of Catalyst Poisoning

Metallic nanocrystals (NCs) with well‐defined sizes and shapes represent a new family of model systems for establishing structure–function relationships in heterogeneous catalysis. Here in this study, we show that catalyst poisoning can be utilized as an efficient strategy for nanocrystals shape and composition control, as well as a way to tune the catalytic activity of catalysts. Lead species, a well‐known poison for noble‐metal catalysts, was investigated in the growth of Pd NCs. We discovered that Pb atoms can be incorporated into the lattice of Pd NCs and form Pd–Pb alloy NCs with tunable composition and crystal facets. As model catalysts, the alloy NCs with different compositions showed different selectivity in the semihydrogenation of phenylacetylene. Pd–Pb alloy NCs with better selectivity than that of the commercial Lindlar catalyst were discovered. This study exemplified that the poisoning effect in catalysis can be explored as efficient shape‐directing reagents in NC growth, and more importantly, as a strategy to tailor the performance of catalysts with high selectivity.     

Colloidal Metal Nanocatalysts: Synthesis,Characterization, and Catalytic Applications

Metal nanoparticles are key materials in heterogeneous catalysis due to their high catalytic activity and selectivity to the desired product. Accordingly, they are playing a pivotal role in most heterogeneous catalytic reactions that are steeply growing with the development of a colloidal synthetic protocol that enables fine control of size, shape, morphology and composition of metal nanoparticles at an atomic level. These colloidal metal nanoparticles can be dispersed on a rigid support such as mesoporous silica, metal oxide and zeolite, which utilizes metal nanoparticles as model heterogeneous catalysts in industrially important processes involving hydrogenation/dehydrogenation, isomerization and cracking. In this review article, we highlight the recent progress on general colloidal synthetic routes with technological advances in characterization tools that enable the atomic-scale observation of metal nanoparticles. Structure-dependent contributions on the control of product selectivity and turnover rate are also discussed by combining advanced ex situ and in situ surface characterization tools that can monitor the structural change of metal nanocatalysts as well as the evolution of reaction intermediates under the reaction conditions.     

Stability and regeneration of metal catalytic sites with different sizes in Fenton-like system

Metal-based catalysts with different site sizes (e.g., metal nanoparticles (NPs) and single atom catalysts (SACs)) demonstrated outstanding catalytic activities in versatile Fenton-like reactions. However, the surface/structural instability is a critical issue, which will result in rapid passivation in Fenton-like reaction and fail in long-term operation. The catalytic stability of the catalysts with different metal sizes considering versatile peroxides (H₂O₂, peroxymonosulfate (PMS), and peroxodisulfate (PDS)) should be analyzed. In addition, strategies for catalyst regeneration and recyclability improvement are also important to realize the metal-based catalysts for practical applications. In this review, catalytic stability of catalysts with different metal sizes in the backgrounds of versatile peroxides and water matrixes in Fenton-like reactions were first evaluated. Regeneration of metal catalytic sites with different methods were also reviewed. Finally, major challenges and development of methods concerning the stability and regeneration of metal catalytic sites with different sizes were discussed to understand the future researches of metal catalytic sites in Fenton-like reactions.     

Nanocast mesoporous mixed metal oxides for catalytic applications

Since the initial discovery of ordered mesoporous silica in early 1990s, considerable innovations were achieved regarding their synthesis, characterization and applications. One of the best outcomes of these intense research efforts is the development of a solid templating method called “nanocasting”, which is based on using mesoporous silica (or carbon) as a rigid template. This solid-to-solid replication method opened the pathway for synthesizing high surface area non-silica mesostructured materials that are challenging to obtain through conventional self-assembly processes which are based on amphiphilic soft structure-directing agents. In particular, the replicated metal oxide mesostructures obtained by this method were found to be highly versatile for a wide range of applications, especially in catalysis, owing to their large specific surface area. Furthermore, the nanocasting method is particularly suited for the synthesis of mixed metal compositions, favored by the possible confinement of mixed precursors in the nanopores of the template. In this account, we discuss some of the recent developments regarding the synthesis of nanocast mixed metal oxides and their perspectives of catalytic applications. It is here the choice of the authors to place emphasis on a few representative examples of compositions (e.g., non-noble metal-based catalysts, perovskites) and catalytic reactions (e.g., hydrogen production, gas-phase oxidation).     

Cluster,facets, and edges: site-dependent selective chemistry on model catalysts

More than activity, selectivity of catalytic reactions is the focus of research in the 21(st) century. We review studies on model systems that address the issue of directing a catalytic reaction on disperse metal catalysts by controlling the specific surface site. Three examples are explored: methanol dehydrogenation over Pd/alumina, NO dissociation on Pd/alumina, and reaction studies for molecules relevant in a Fischer-Tropsch scenario on a bimetallic Pd/Co/alumina model catalyst. We show how surface science can be used by combining a variety of experimental techniques to study the chemistry of model catalysts at the atomic level.     

Au–Ag Nanoflower Catalysts with Clean Surfaces for Alcohol Oxidation

Shape‐controlled metal nanocrystals, such as nanowires and nanoflowers, are attractive owing to their potentially novel catalytic properties and bimetallic nanocrystals composed of two distinct metals are expected to act as highly active catalysts. However, their catalytic activities are limited because of the capping agents adsorbed on the metal surfaces, which are necessary for the preparation and dispersion of these nanocrystals in solvents. Therefore, the preparation of bimetallic shape‐controlled noble metal nanocrystals with clean surfaces, devoid of almost all capping agents, are expected to have high catalytic activity. Herein, we report the preparation of bimetallic Au–Ag nanoflowers using melamine as the capping agent. The bimetallic Au–Ag nanoflowers with a clean surface were subsequently obtained by a support and extraction method. The bimetallic nanoflowers with a clean surface were then used for the aerobic oxidation of 1‐phenylethyl alcohol and they exhibited high rates for the formation of acetophenone compared to Au nanoflowers and spherical nanoparticles with almost the same size and Au/Ag ratio. We also show that Au–Ag nanoflowers containing only 1 % Ag (Au₉₉–Ag₁NFs) exhibit the highest rate of acetophenone formation among Au–Ag nanoflowers with different Au/Ag ratios owing to an increase in the electron density of the Au atoms that act as active sites for the oxidation of 1‐phenylethyl alcohol.     

Catalysis with transition metal nanoparticles in colloidal solution: nanoparticle shape dependence and stability

While the nanocatalysis field has undergone an explosive growth during the past decade, there have been very few studies in the area of shape-dependent catalysis and the effect of the catalytic process on the shape and size of transition metal nanoparticles as well as their recycling potential. Metal nanoparticles of different shapes have different crystallographic facets and have different fraction of surface atoms on their corners and edges, which makes it interesting to study the effect of metal nanoparticle shape on the catalytic activity of various organic and inorganic reactions. Transition metal nanoparticles are attractive to use as catalysts due to their high surface-to-volume ratio compared to bulk catalytic materials, but their surface atoms could be so active that changes in the size and shape of the nanoparticles could occur during the course of their catalytic function, which could also affect their recycling potential. In this Feature Article, we review our work on the effect of the shape of the colloidal nanocatalyst on the catalytic activity as well as the effect of the catalytic process on the shape and size of the colloidal transition metal nanocatalysts and their recycling potential. These studies provide important clues on the mechanism of the reactions we studied and also can be very useful in the process of designing better catalysts in the future.     

Colloidal Noble‐Metal and Bimetallic Alloy Nanocrystals: A General Synthetic Method and Their Catalytic Hydrogenation Properties

A general single‐step strategy has been developed for the direct thermal decomposition of noble‐metal salts in octadecylamine to synthesize octahedron‐ and rod‐shaped noble‐metal aggregates and monodisperse noble‐metal or bimetallic alloy nanocrystals without introducing any additive into the system. It has presented a facile and economic way to fabricate these nanocrystals, especially alloy nanocrystals, which does not require a post‐synthesis solid‐state annealing process. The morphology of the nanocrystals can be easily controlled by tuning the synthetic temperature. Their ability to catalyze heterogeneous Suzuki coupling reactions has been investigated and showed satisfactory catalytic activity. The catalytic performance of the monometallic and bimetallic alloy nanocrystals were also evaluated in the selective hydrogenation of citral in a conventional organic solvent (toluene) and a green solvent (supercritical carbon dioxide, scCO₂). Interestingly, the catalysts performed differently to each other when they were in scCO₂ owing to the different morphology, which should be readily optimized for further use.     

Recyclable Catalysts for Alkyne Functionalization

In this review, we present an assessment of recent advances in alkyne functionalization reactions, classified according to different classes of recyclable catalysts. In this work, we have incorporated and reviewed the activity and selectivity of recyclable catalytic systems such as polysiloxane-encapsulated novel metal nanoparticle-based catalysts, silica–copper-supported nanocatalysts, graphitic carbon-supported nanocatalysts, metal organic framework (MOF) catalysts, porous organic framework (POP) catalysts, bio-material-supported catalysts, and metal/solvent free recyclable catalysts. In addition, several alkyne functionalization reactions have been elucidated to demonstrate the success and efficiency of recyclable catalysts. In addition, this review also provides the fundamental knowledge required for utilization of green catalysts, which can combine the advantageous features of both homogeneous (catalyst modulation) and heterogeneous (catalyst recycling) catalysis.     

单原子催化剂的制备、表征及催化性能

单原子催化剂(SACs)是指金属以单原子形式均匀分散在载体上形成的具有优异催化性能的催化剂.与传统载体型催化剂相比,SACs具有活性高、选择性好及贵金属利用率高等优点,在氧化反应、加氢反应、水煤气变换、光催化制氢以及电化学催化等领域都具有广泛应用,是目前催化领域的研究热点之一.常见的SACs制备方法有共沉淀法、浸渍法、置换反应法、原子层沉积法以及反奥斯瓦尔德熟化法等.实验及理论研究表明,单原子催化剂高的活性和选择性可归因于活性金属原子和载体之间的相互作用及由此引起的电子结构改变.载体是影响单原子催化剂性能的重要因素之一.目前常用的SACs载体有金属氧化物、二维材料和金属纳米团簇等,本文着重综述了这三种负载型SACs的制备、表征、催化性能及催化机理,并概述了SACs未来可能的发展方向和应用.研究表明,共沉淀法、湿浸渍法和反奥斯瓦尔德熟化法等方法可用来制备氧化物负载的SACs.高角环形暗场像-扫描透射电子显微镜(HAADF-STEM)表明金属是以单原子形式均匀分散在载体上,近边X射线吸收精细结构(XANES)结果表明金属原子与载体之间存在着强相互作用.实验和理论研究均表明该类催化剂在CO氧化反应、水煤气转化及乙炔加氢生成乙烯等反应中具有高的催化活性和稳定性.采用化学气相沉积法和原子层沉积法等方法可以将金属原子稳定地负载在具有缺陷活性位点的石墨烯、MXene及六方氮化硼等二维材料上并相应制备出SACs.X射线吸收精细结构谱(EXAFS)和XANES分析表明样品中金属以单原子形式存在,而且金属原子与载体之间也存在着强相互作用,理论计算表明金属原子与二维载体之间的电荷转移是SACs活性高的主要原因.置换反应法和连续还原法是制备溶胶型SACs的有效方法,其中置换反应法可将活性金属原子原位组装在金属模板团簇的顶点位置,连续还原法可将活性原子负载于金属模板团簇的表面.DFT计算表明活性原子和金属模板团簇之间存在电荷转移效应,这是溶胶型SACs具有非常高的催化活性的主要原因.SACs下一步的研究方向可能是:(1)研究开发新型SACs,尽可能提高催化剂中活性金属原子的含量;(2)深入研究SACs的结构、活性以及催化机理之间的关系;(3)尝试将SACs大规模应用于工业催化.     

基于石墨烯基材料的非金属液相催化反应

非金属碳基催化剂因其具有合成简单、结构稳定、比表面积大、可调控性强等特点受到了研究者的关注,已成为最活跃的研究领域之一。以二维、单原子层、六方结构的碳为基础的石墨烯和其高度氧化形态——氧化石墨烯是一类新兴的碳基材料。这类材料在催化领域的应用在近五年内才刚刚兴起。此类材料可用于烃类转化、有机化学合成、能源转化等多种催化反应,本文主要综述了采用化学氧化还原法制备的石墨烯和氧化石墨材料为催化剂的各类催化反应的最新研究进展。     

Noble‐Metal Nanocrystals with Controlled Facets for Electrocatalysis

Noble‐metal nanocrystals (NCs) show excellent catalytic performance for many important electrocatalysis reactions. The crystallographic properties of the facets by which the NCs are bound, closely associated with the shape of the NCs, have a profound influence on the electrocatalytic function of the NCs. To develop an efficient strategy for the synthesis of NCs with controlled facets as well as compositions, understanding of the growth mechanism of the NCs and their interaction with the chemical species involved in NC synthesis is quite important. Furthermore, understanding the facet‐dependent catalytic properties of noble‐metal NCs and the corresponding mechanisms for various electrocatalysis reactions will allow for the rational design of robust electrocatalysts. In this review, we summarize recently developed synthesis strategies for the preparation of mono‐ and bimetallic noble‐metal NCs by classifying them by the type of facets through which they are enclosed and discuss the electrocatalytic applications of noble‐metal NCs with controlled facets, especially for reactions associated with fuel‐cell applications, such as the oxygen reduction reaction and fuel (methanol, ethanol, and formic acid) oxidation reactions.     

介孔硅材料及其负载型催化剂去除挥发性有机物的最新进展

介孔硅材料由于具有大的比表面积,均一的孔结构和大的孔径,常被用于分离、吸附和催化等领域.本文综述了近年来国内外介孔硅材料及其负载型催化剂去除各类挥发性有机物(VOCs)的研究进展,主要包括烃类、甲醇、甲醛、丙酮、苯、甲苯、萘、乙酸乙酯等.讨论了介孔硅材料的结构对VOCs吸附过程的影响;介绍了不同催化剂消除各类VOCs的催化性能及反应机理,并重点评述了甲苯在不同催化剂上的研究进展.分析结果表明,介孔硅材料的表面环境、孔道结构以及宏观形貌是影响VOCs分子在介孔硅材料上吸附的主要因素;贵金属催化剂的应用需要提高其抗中毒性以及降低成本;过渡金属的研究应着重于研发高活性的负载型过渡金属复合氧化物催化剂.最后对国内外介孔硅材料及其负载型催化剂的发展进行了展望,今后催化剂的设计可以从“氧化硅载体”和“介孔孔道”两个方面展开,这将为设计合适的催化剂处理各类VOCs污染物提供一定参考.