Combined XPS and AFM study of cluster-containing polymers based on Rh

Rh₆- monomer and polymer-immobilized complexes have been characterized using XPS and AFM. Polymer-immobilized clusters were obtained by the reaction of Rh₆(CO)₁₅CH₃CN with copolymer of allyldiphenylphosphine and styrene. AFM study shows the change of surface morphology of the above copolymers. XPS data demonstrated the change of charge state of Rh atoms under monosubstitution of the CO-group for Rh₆- monomer complexes as well as in copolymer cluster complexe after the catalysis process of hydrogenation.     

Ethanol synthesis from syngas on Mn- and Fe-promoted Rh/γ-Al2O3

The catalytic hydrogenation of CO was studied over Mn- and/or Fe-promoted Rh/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts. The catalysts were characterized by means of XRD, BET, H₂-TPR·H₂-TPD, XPS and DRIFTS. CO hydrogenation results showed that the doubly Mn- and Fe-promoted Rh/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts exhibited superior catalytic activity and better ethanol selectivity. The DRIFTS results showed that Mn promoter stabilized the adsorbed CO on Rh⁺ and Fe stabilized adsorbed CO on Rh⁺ and Rh⁰, especially Rh⁰. The fact that doubly Mn- and Fe-promoted Rh/γ-Al₂O₃ owned more (Rhx⁰–Rhy⁺)–O–Fe³⁺·(Fe²⁺) active species was proposed to be a crucial factor accounting for its higher ethanol selectivity.     

Elektronenstruktur von Rh4(CO)12, ein Modell für linear und brückenförmig gebundenes CO an Rhodiumkatalysatoren

Electronic Structure of Rh₄(CO)₁₂, a Model for Linear- and Bridge-bonded CO on Rhodium Catalysts The electronic structure of the Rh₄(CO)₁₂ cluster containing both linear- and bridgebonded CO groups has been studied by the EHMO method and compared with that of the Ir₄(CO)₁₂ cluster with only linear-bonded CO ligands. The charge distribution shows a distinctly higher π-back donation for the bridge-bonded CO groups. This result is compared with experimental data such as bond lengths, force constants of the C? O stretching frequencies and XPS data. It allows further an interpretation of results of CO hydrogenation on supported rhodium catalysts and on rhodium model complexes.     

Tuning the CO2 Hydrogenation Selectivity of Rhodium Single-Atom Catalysts on Zirconium Dioxide with Alkali Ions

Tuning the coordination environments of metal single atoms (M₁) in single-atom catalysts has shown large impacts on catalytic activity and stability but often barely on selectivity in thermocatalysis. Here, we report that simultaneously regulating both Rh₁ atoms and ZrO₂ support with alkali ions (e.g., Na) enables efficient switching of the reaction products from nearly 100 % CH₄ to above 99 % CO in CO₂ hydrogenation in a wide temperature range (240–440 °C) along with a record high activity of 9.4 mol_CO g_Rh⁻¹ h⁻¹ at 300 °C and long-term stability. In situ spectroscopic characterization and theoretical calculations unveil that alkali ions on ZrO₂ change the surface intermediate from formate to carboxy species during CO₂ activation, thus leading to exclusive CO formation. Meanwhile, alkali ions also reinforce the electronic Rh₁-support interactions, endowing the Rh₁ atoms more electron deficient, which improves the stability against sintering and inhibits deep hydrogenation of CO to CH₄.     

Reactivity of metal-containing monomers 66. Hydrogenation of nitrotoluene derivatives in the presence of polymer-immobilized Pd nanoparticles

A new approach to the synthesis of immobilized catalysts of the mixed type was developed: frontal polymerization of metal-containing monomers in the presence of a highly dispersed inorganic support. The synthesis of the acrylamide complex of Pd^II nitrate on the SiO₂ surface followed by polymerization and reduction results in the formation of a polymer-inorganic composite with inclusions of Pd nanoparticles stabilized by the polymer matrix on the support surface. The study of the catalytic properties in the hydrogenation of nitrotoluene derivatives showed that the polymer-immobilized Pd nanoparticles on the inorganic support are efficient catalysts for the reduction of the nitrocompounds.     

合成方法对Rh/CeO2-ZrO2-La2O3催化剂的结构、表面性能及DeNOx活性的影响

用沉积沉淀法合成两种不同系列的CeO2-ZrO2-La2O3混合氧化物(ZrO2和La2O3沉积CeO2粒子(标记为A-x)以及CeO2和La2O3沉积ZrO2粒子(标记为B-x)),并用作Rh催化剂的载体。XRD、拉曼、TPR、XPS和O2脉冲等表征结果显示出不同的沉积顺序将导致不同的结构和氧化还原性能,且B-x具有更高的氧迁移性、储氧能力和表面Ce浓度。当其负载Rh后,Rh/B-x催化剂具有更高的NO和CO转化率及N2选择性,且Ce的最佳含量为50at%。这可能归因于Rh负载于富铈表面形成更多有利于NO分解的表面Ce3+活性位。     

Synthesis of Anchored Rh-Co Cluster Catalysts and Their Hydroformylation Properties

A series of polymer-anchored Rh-Co heteronuclear carbonyl cluster catalysts was synthesized by the reaction of Co₂Rh₂(CO)₁₂ with various kinds of polymer supports, such as poly(2-vinylpyridine), poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone), poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride), and aminated products of the latter. The structure of the catalysts was characterized by IR, SEM, XPS, and ICP. The influence of the support structure and crosslinking, the metal content, and the type of substrate on the catalyst's hydroformylation properties was studied. The stability of the catalysts was examined by IR. The experimental results indicate that the supported cluster catalysts possess high catalytic activity, better selectivity, good stability, and reproducibility.     

[Fec3(μ3-CR)(CO)10]− Cluster anions as building blocks for the synthesis of mixed-metal clusters: II. Synthesis of HFe3Rh(μ4-η2-CCHR)(CO)11 clusters (R = H or C6H5) and study of their catalytic activity (R = C6H5) under hydroformylation and hydrogenation conditions

The mixed-metal vinylidene clusters HFe₃Rh(CO)₁₁(CCHR) (R = H, C₆H₅) have been synthesized via the reaction of [HFe₃(CO)₃CCHR][P(C₆H₅)₄] with [RhCl(CO)₂]₂ in the presence of a thallium salt. The reaction initially gives the [Fe₃Rh(CO)₁₁]CCHR][P(C₆H₅)₄] cluster which leads to the final products by protonation. Spectroscopic data indicate a μ₄-η² mode of bonding for the vinylidene ligand. A structure with a Fe₃Rh core in a butterfly configuration and in which the rhodium atom occupy a wing-tip site is proposed. The catalytic activity of HFe₃Rh(CO)₁₁(CCH(C₆H₅)) (80% yield) has been checked in hydroformylation and hydrogenation. In hydroformylation the cluster shows the same activity as Rh₄(CO)₁₂, whereas in hydrogenation the mixed-metal system shows specific activity; isomerization of 1-heptene to cis and trans 2-heptene takes place with no more than 14% heptane formation. The cluster is broken down during the catalysis, and some H₃Fe₃CO)₉(μ₃-CCH₂(C₆H₅)) is formed. The latter cluster is not an active catalyst, and under the same conditions use of Rh₄(CO)₁₂ results mainly in hydrogenation of 1-heptene. These observations suggest that the active species is a mixed iron-rhodium system.     

Surface‐Mediated Synthesis of Dimeric Rhodium Catalysts on MgO: Tracking Changes in the Nuclearity and Ligand Environment of the Catalytically Active Sites by X‐ray Absorption and Infrared Spectroscopies

The preparation of dinuclear rhodium clusters and their use as catalysts is challenging because these clusters are unstable, evolving readily into species with higher nuclearities. We now present a novel synthetic route to generate rhodium dimers on the surface of MgO by a stoichiometrically simple surface‐mediated reaction involving [Rh(C₂H₄)₂] species and H₂. X‐ray absorption and IR spectra were used to characterize the changes in the nuclearity of the essentially molecular surface species as they formed, including the ligands on the rhodium and the metal‐support interactions. The support plays a key role in stabilizing the dinuclear rhodium species, allowing the incorporation of small ligands (ethyl, hydride, and/or CO) and enabling a characterization of the catalytic performance of the supported species for the hydrogenation of ethylene as a function of the metal nuclearity and ligand environment. A change in the nuclearity from one to two Rh atoms leads to a 58‐fold increase in the catalytic activity for ethylene hydrogenation, a reaction involving unsaturated, but stable, dimeric rhodium species.     

Liquid-phase hydrogenation of 1-alkenes over Rh/AlPO4 and Rh/sepiolite catalysts

The catalytic activity of Rh (1 wt.%) catalysts supported on AlPO₄ and sepiolite has been studied in the liquid-phase hydrogenation of linear 1-alkenes. The reaction orders with respect to 1-alkene concentration are negative but are first order with respect to hydrogen, indicating that 1-alkene adsorbs very strongly on Rh sites and alkene and H₂, compete for adsorption sites on the surface. The initial hydrogenation rates increase in the order 1-hexene < 1-heptene < 1-octene, and furthermore, on going from 1-hexene to 1-octene the steric effects (through ΔS^≠) are activating, while electronic effects (from ΔH^≠) deactivate the reaction process. A cis-concerted mechanism taking place in a single step on a Rh site with three coordinative unsaturations which can simultaneously adsorb hydrogen and a π-bonded alkene is suggested.     

Zeolite‐Encaged Single‐Atom Rhodium Catalysts: Highly‐Efficient Hydrogen Generation and Shape‐Selective Tandem Hydrogenation of Nitroarenes

Single‐atom catalysts are emerging as a new frontier in heterogeneous catalysis because of their maximum atom utilization efficiency, but they usually suffer from inferior stability. Herein, we synthesized single‐atom Rh catalysts embedded in MFI ‐type zeolites under hydrothermal conditions and subsequent ligand‐protected direct H₂ reduction. C_s‐corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and extended X‐ray absorption analyses revealed that single Rh atoms were encapsulated within 5‐membered rings and stabilized by zeolite framework oxygen atoms. The resultant catalysts exhibited excellent H₂ generation rates from ammonia borane (AB) hydrolysis, up to 699 min^?1 at 298 K, representing the top level among heterogeneous catalysts for AB hydrolysis. The catalysts also showed superior catalytic performance in shape‐selective tandem hydrogenation of various nitroarenes by coupling with AB hydrolysis, giving >99 % yield of corresponding amine products.     

An XPS study of the oxidation of noble metal particles evaporated onto the surface of an oxide support in their reaction with NO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>

The interaction of the model catalysts Rh/Al₂O₃, Pd/Al₂O₃, Pt/Al₂O₃, and Pt/SiO₂ with NO _x (mixture of 10 Torr of NO and 10 Torr of O₂) was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Samples of the model catalysts were prepared under vacuum conditions as oxide films ≥100 Å in thickness on tantalum foil with evaporated platinum-group metal particles. According to transmission electron microscopic data, the platinum-group metal particle size was several nanometers. It was found by XPS that the oxidation of Rh and Pd nanoparticles in their interaction with NO _x occurs already at room temperature. The particles of platinum were more stable: their oxidation under the action of NO _x was observed at elevated temperatures of ～300°C. At room temperature, the interaction of platinum nanoparticles with NO _x hypothetically leads to the dissolution (insertion) of oxygen atoms in the bulk of the particles with the retention of their metallic nature. It was found that dissolved oxygen is much more readily reducible by hydrogen than the lattice oxygen of the platinum oxide particles.     

Noncovalent anchoring of asymmetric hydrogenation catalysts on a new mesoporous aluminosilicate: application and solvent effects

A new Brønsted acidic aluminosilicate, AlTUD‐1, with ideal characteristics for catalyst immobilisation (mesoporous structure, high surface area, and high Al_tetrahedral/Si ratio), was used successfully for the noncovalent anchoring of two well‐established asymmetric hydrogenation catalysts: [Rh^I(cod){(R,R)‐MeDuPHOS}]BF₄ ( 1 ) and [Rh^I(cod){(S,S)‐DiPAMP}]BF₄ ( 2 ). The new heterogeneous catalysts, 1 ‐AlTUD‐1 and 2 ‐AlTUD‐1, prepared by a straightforward ion‐exchange procedure, were highly active and selective in the asymmetric reduction of dimethyl itaconate ( 3 ) and methyl 2‐acetamidoacrylate ( 4 ), giving enantiomeric excesses of up to >98 %. The catalysts showed similar behaviour to their homogeneous counterparts. Catalyst 2 ‐AlTUD‐1 could be re‐used multiple times without loss of enantioselectivity or activity. Leaching of Rh showed a significant dependence on the polarity of the solvent in which the catalysis was performed. By applying tert‐butylmethyl ether (MTBE) as solvent, the loss of Rh could be reduced to <0.1 %. The solvent also had a noteworthy effect on the enantioselectivity in the hydrogenation of 4 (an effect not seen with 3 as substrate), that is, in MeOH the ee was 92 %, in MTBE it dropped to 26 % when using 2 ‐AlTUD‐1 as catalyst.     

Preparation,characterization, and hydrogenation activity of new Rh0–MCM-41 catalysts prepared from as-synthesized MCM-41 and RhCl3

Impregnation of as-synthesized MCM-41 silica by ethanolic solutions of rhodium(III) chloride was tested as an alternative to its introduction into the synthesis gel to get, after calcination and reduction by H₂, highly dispersed metal(0) nanoparticles throughout the mesopores network. Rh(III) and Rh(0)–based solids thus obtained were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, transmission electron microscopy, N₂ sorption, and X-ray diffraction. Materials with 1.6 wt % of rhodium could be obtained as a result of CTA⁺/Rh³⁺ exchange. The determining role of CTA⁺ was emphasized through blank experiments. In a second series of materials, ethanol was also exploited for its ability to reduce Rh(III). All Rh(0)-based solids were tested as catalysts in the hydrogenation of styrene under mild temperature and pressure conditions. Catalysis performances of the most efficient sample (reduced by H₂) were further compared with those of a very similar material prepared by the introduction of Rh(III) directly into the synthesis gel of MCM-41 silica. Better cis selectivities in the hydrogenation of disubstituted arene derivatives were achieved with materials issued from the new preparation method.     

Surface supported metal cluster carbonyls. Chemisorption decomposition and reactivity of Rh4(CO)12 supported on silica and alumina

Chemisorption of Rh₄(CO)₁₂ on to a highly divided silica (Aerosil “0” from Degussa), Leads to the transformation: 3 Rh₄(CO)₁₂ → 2 Rh₆(CO)₁₆ + 4 CO. Such an easy rearrangement of the cluster cage implies mobility of zerovalent rhodium carbonyl fragments on the surface. Carbon monoxide is a very efficient inhibitor of this reaction, and Rh₄(CO)₁₂ is stable as such on silica under a CO atmosphere. Both Rh₄(CO)₁₂ and Rh₆(CO)₁₆ are easily decomposed to small metal particles of higher nuclearity under a water atmosphere and to rhodium(I) dicarbonyl species under oxygen. From the Rh^I(CO)₂ species it is possible to regenate first Rh₄(CO)₁₂ and then Rh₆(CO)₁₆ by treatment with CO (P_co ? 200 mm Hg) and H₂O (P_H2O ? 18 mm Hg). The reduction of Rh^I(CO)₂ surface species by water requires a nucleophilic attack to produce an hypothetical [Rh(CO)_n]_m species which can polymerize to small Rh₄ or Rh₆ clusters in the presence of CO but which in the absence of CO lead to metal particles of higher nuclearity. Similar results are obtained on alumina.     

Electronic and magnetic properties of small RhnCa (n = 1–9) clusters: A DFT study

The equilibrium geometries, relative stabilities, electronic and magnetic properties of small Rh_nCa (n = 1–9) clusters have been investigated by DFT calculations. The obtained results show that the three‐dimensional geometries are adopted for the lowest‐energy Rh_nCa clusters, and the doped Ca atom prefers locating on the surface of the cluster. Based on the analysis of the second‐order difference of energies, fragmentation energies and the HOMO‐LUMO energy gaps, we identify that the Rh₄Ca, Rh₆Ca, and Rh₈Ca clusters are relatively more stable than their neighboring clusters, and the doping of Ca enhances the chemical reactivity of the pure Rh_n clusters, suggesting that the Rh_nCa clusters can be used as nanocatalysts in many catalytic reactions. The magnetic moment for these clusters is mostly localized on the Rh atoms, and the doping Ca atom has no effect on the total magnetic moment of Rh_nCa clusters. The partial density of states, VIP, VEA, and η of these clusters in their ground‐state structures were also calculated and discussed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Characterization of Au-Rh/TiO2 catalysts by CO adsorption; XPS, FTIR and TPD experiments

On X-ray photoelectron spectra of the Au-Rh/TiO₂ catalysts the position of Au4f peak was practically unaffected by the presence of rhodium, the peak position of Rh3d, however, shifted to lower binding energy with the increase of gold content of the catalysts. Rh enrichment in the outer layers of the bimetallic crystallites was experienced. The bands due to Au⁰-CO, Rh⁰-CO and (Rh⁰)₂-CO were observed on the IR spectra of bimetallic samples, no signs for Rh⁺-(CO)₂ were detected on these catalysts. The results were interpreted by electron donation from titania through gold to rhodium and by the higher particle size of bimetallic crystallites.     

Mesoporous SBA-15-supported chiral catalysts: preparation,characterization and asymmetric catalysis

Two mesoporous silica-supported chiral Rh and Ru catalysts 5 and 6 with ordered two-dimensional hexagonal mesostructures were prepared by directly postgrafting organometallic complexes RhCl[(R)-MonoPhos(CH₂)₃Si(OMe)₃][(R,R)-DPEN] and RuCl₂[(R)-MonoPhos(CH₂)₃Si(OMe)₃][(R,R)-DPEN] (DPEN = 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine) on SBA-15. During the asymmetric hydrogenation of various aromatic ketones under 40 atm H₂, both catalysts exhibited high catalytic activities (more than 97% conversions) and moderate enantioselectivities (33–54% ee). Furthermore, the chiral Rh catalyst 5 could be easily recovered and used repetitively five times without significantly affecting its catalytic activity and enantioselectivity. A catalytic comparison of the mesoporous silica-supported chiral Rh catalyst 4 prepared by a postmodification method is also discussed.     

Ein,altes‘ Rhodiumsulfid mit überraschender Struktur: Synthese,Kristallstruktur und elektronische Eigenschaften von Rh3S4

An ‘old' Rhodiumsulfide with surprising Structure – Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Electronic Properties of Rh₃S₄ The reaction of rhodium with rhodium(III)‐chloride and sulfur at 1320 K in a sealed evacuated quartz glass ampoule yields silvery lustrous, air stable crystals of the rhodiumsulfide Rh₃S₄. Although a sulfide of this composition was described in 1935 a closer characterization has not been undertaken. Rh₃S₄ crystallizes in a new structure type in the monoclinic space group C2/m with a = 1029(2) pm, b = 1067(1) pm, c = 621.2(8) pm, β = 107.70(1)°. Besides strands of edge‐sharing RhS₆ octahedra which are connected by S₂ pairs (S–S = 220 pm), the crystal structure of Rh₃S₄ contains Rh₆ cluster rings in chair conformation with Rh–Rh single bond lengths of 270 pm. Both fragments are linked by common sulfur atoms. Extended Hückel calculations indicate bonding overlap for both S–S‐ and Rh–Rh‐interactions. Rh₃S₄ has a composition between the neighboring phases Rh₂S₃ and Rh₁₇S₁₅ and the structure combines typical fragments of both: RhS₆‐octahedra from Rh₂S₃ and domains of metal‐metal bonds as found in Rh₁₇S₁₅. Rh₃S₄ is a metallic conductor, down to 4.5 K the substance shows a weak, temperature independent paramagnetism.     

Carbon‐Supported Rh17S15‐Rh Electrocatalysts Applied in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Rh₁₇S₁₅‐Rh catalysts supported on acid‐treated carbon black were prepared from RhCl₃ by a facile method using sulfur source ((NH₄)₂S₂O₃) and reducing agent (NaBH₄), followed by an additional thermal treatment at 650 °C in argon. The prepared catalyst comprised an Rh₁₇S₁₅ single crystalline phase and a zero‐valent metal (Rh) phase supported on a conductive carbon. By XRD characterization, the constituent ratio of Rh₁₇S₁₅ to Rh in the electrocatalysts, ranging from 51–95 %, varied with the increase of amount of (NH₄)₂S₂O₃ or NaBH₄. Morphologies of the resulting catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique. Most of particles were found to have a distribution of agglomerates ranging in size from 10 to 50 nm. In studying the effect of the constituent phases of chalcogenide electrocatalysts on oxygen reduction reaction activity, it is paramount to understand and optimize the structure sensitivity of the reaction, which will aid in determining the optimal ratio of Rh₁₇S₁₅ to Rh of the electrocatalyst. Activity and stability of the prepared catalysts were addressed using a series of cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments in 1 M HCl electrolyte, in which the electrocatalyst of 95 % of Rh₁₇S₁₅ was found to be the most stable. The rotating disk electrode (RDE) experiment indicated the sulfide catalyst with 82 % of Rh₁₇S₁₅ showed the better performance for the ORR, which was discussed based on the compromise between the stability for the constituent phase of Rh₁₇S₁₅ in 1 M HCl and enhanced activity found for Rh phase.