Intermetallic Compounds: Liquid-Phase Synthesis and Electrocatalytic Applications

Characterized by long-range atomic ordering, well-defined stoichiometry, and controlled crystal structure, intermetallics have attracted increasing attention in the area of chemical synthesis and catalytic applications. Liquid-phase synthesis of intermetallics has arisen as the promising methodology due to its precise control over size, shape, and resistance toward sintering compared with the traditional metallurgy. This short review tends to provide perspectives on the liquid-phase synthesis of intermetallics in terms of both thermodynamics and methodology, as well as its applications in various catalytic reactions. Specifically, basic thermodynamics and kinetics in the synthesis of intermetallics will be first discussed, followed by discussing the main factors that will affect the formation of intermetallics during synthesis. The application of intermetallics in electrocatalysis will be demonstrated case by case at last. We conclude the review with perspectives on the future developments with respect to both synthesis and catalytic applications.     

In Situ Growth and Characterization of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles within Polyelectrolyte Membranes

This study describes a novel approach for the in situ synthesis of metal oxide–polyelectrolyte nanocomposites formed via impregnation of hydrated polyelectrolyte films with binary water/alcohol solutions of metal salts and consecutive reactions that convert metal cations into oxide nanoparticles embedded within the polymer matrix. The method is demonstrated drawing on the example of Nafion membranes and a variety of metal oxides with an emphasis placed on zinc oxide. The in situ formation of nanoparticles is controlled by changing the solvent composition and conditions of synthesis that for the first time allows one to tailor not only the size, but also the nanoparticle shape, giving a preference to growth of a particular crystal facet. The high‐resolution TEM, SEM/EDX, UV‐vis and XRD studies confirmed the homogeneous distribution of crystalline nanoparticles of circa 4 nm and their aggregates of 10–20 nm. The produced nanocomposite films are flexible, mechanically robust and have a potential to be employed in sensing, optoelectronics and catalysis.     

PVP封端剂对Pd纳米晶电催化氧化甲醇和乙醇性能的影响

Direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) have attracted considerable research interest because of their potential application as alternative power sources for automotive systems and portable electronics. Pd-based catalysts represent one of the most popular catalysts for DAFCs due to their excellent electrocatalytic activities in alkaline electrolytes. Thus, it is of great importance to understand the structure-activity relationship of Pd electrocatalysts for alcohol electrocatalysis. Recently, size- and shape- controlled Pd nanocrystals have been successfully synthesized and subsequently used to study the size and shape effects of Pd electrocatalysts on alcohol electrocatalysis, in which the Pd (100) facet exhibited higher electrocatalytic oxidation activity for small alcohol molecules than the Pd (111) and (110) facets. Although it is well known that capping ligands, which are widely used in wet chemistry for the size- and shape-controlled synthesis of metal nanocrystals, likely chemisorb onto the surfaces of the resulting metal nanocrystals and influence their surface structure and surface-mediated properties, such as catalysis, this issue was not considered in previous studies of Pd nanocrystal electrocatalysts for electrocatalytic oxidation of small alcohol molecules. In this study, we prepared polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-capped Pd nanocrystals with different morphologies and sizes and comparatively studied their electrocatalytic activities for methanol and ethanol oxidation in alkaline solutions. The chemisorbed PVP molecules transferred charge to the Pd nanocrystals, and the finer Pd nanocrystals had a higher coverage of chemisorbed PVP, and thus exposed fewer accessible surface sites, experienced more extensive PVP-to-Pd charge transfer, and were more negatively charged. The intrinsic electrocatalytic activity, represented by the electrochemical surface area (ECSA)-normalized electrocatalytic activity, of Pd nanocubes with exposed (100) facets increases with the particle size, indicating that the more negatively-charged Pd surface is less electrocatalytically active. The Pd nanocubes with average sizes between 12 and 19 nm are intrinsically more electrocatalytically active than commercial Pd black electrocatalysts, while the activity of Pd nanocubes with an averages size of 8 nm is less. This suggests that the enhancement effect of the exposed (100) facets surpasses the deteriorative effect of the negatively charged Pd surface for the Pd nanocubes with average sizes between 12 and 19 nm, whereas the deteriorative effect of the negatively charged Pd surface surpasses the enhancement effect of the exposed (100) facets for the Pd nanocubes with average sizes of 8 nm due to the extensive PVP-to-Pd charge transfer. Moreover, the Pd nanocubes with average sizes of 8 nm exhibit similar intrinsic electrocatalytic activity to the Pd nanooctahedra with (111) facets exposed and average sizes of 7 nm, indicating that the electronic structure of Pd electrocatalysts plays a more important role in influencing the electrocatalytic activity than the exposed facet. Since the chemisorbed PVP molecules block the surface sites on Pd nanocrystals that are accessible to the reactants, all Pd nanocrystals exhibit lower mass-normalized electrocatalytic activity than the Pd black electrocatalysts, and the mass-normalized electrocatalytic activity increases with the ECSA. These results clearly demonstrate that the size- and shape-dependent electrocatalytic activity of Pd nanocrystals capped with PVP for methanol and ethanol oxidation should be attributed to both the exposed facets of the Pd nanocrystals and the size-dependent electronic structures of the Pd nanocrystals resulting from the size-dependent PVP coverage and PVP-to-Pd charge transfer. Therefore, capping ligands on capped metal nanocrystals inevitably influence their surface structures and surface-mediated properties, which must be considered for a comprehensive understanding of the structure-activity relationship of capped metal nanocrystals.     

金属性二维过渡金属硫化物的溶剂热合成及电催化析氢性能

采用溶剂热法制备了多种二维过渡金属硫化物(TMDCs), 在合成过程中通过调控反应前驱体的滴加速率来控制所得TMDCs的形貌和结构. 然后采用高温热处理来提高TMDCs的结晶性, 从而提升了其电催化活性. 在酸性电解液中进行电催化析氢性能测试. 结果表明, “花状”结构的金属性二维二硫化铌(NbS₂)具有最佳的催化活性和稳定性, 在电流密度为10 mA/cm²时, 其过电位仅为146 mV, 持续工作24 h后电流密度几乎不衰减. 研究发现, 可充分暴露面内活性位点的“花状”结构以及高温处理后材料导电性的提高是二维NbS₂具有优异电催化性能的主要因素.     

硫纳米粒子的液相合成与表征

以硫粉为起始原料, 采用甲酸做沉淀剂、聚乙二醇-400为分散剂, 在常温、常压、液相条件下合成了硫纳米粒子. 对影响硫纳米粒子合成的条件进行了优化和分析, 考察了其在有机溶剂中的分散性. 用激光粒度分析仪测定产物的粒径分布, 透射电镜观察产物的形貌, X射线衍射仪分析产物的晶相. 结果表明, 用液相沉淀法成功地合成了颗粒均匀、粒径50～80 nm 的球形单斜相硫纳米粒子. 本方法条件温和、操作简单、成本低廉, 适用于工业化生产.     

Chemistry and Crystal Growth

Single-crystal materials, along with other forms of condensed matter (ceramics, polymers, liquid crystals, etc.) are fundamental to modern technology. The basic research and production of new materials with “tailored” solid-state physical properties therefore necessitate not only chemical synthesis but also the production of single crystals of a particular morphology (either bulk or thin layer crystals) and well-defined crystal defects (doping). In this review, an attempt is made to broaden the traditional synthetic concept of chemistry to the process of single-crystal synthesis. The methods of the resulting approach, which takes into account the specific properties of solid materials, are discussed and illustrated by experimental set-ups for the solution of a range of problems in chemical crystallization. Also included is recent work on the growing of single crystals of high-temperature superconductors, organic non-linear optical compounds, and proteins.     

微波法煅烧高岭土及合成洗涤助剂4A沸石

本文用微波法燃烧高岭土并合成４Ａ沸石。与传统高温热处理法相比,微波法燃烧的高岭土其活化深度好,增白程度高,粒度细,能耗大为降低,显示了明显的优越性。本文还采用燃烧后的活性高岭土为原料,在微波辐射下进行４Ａ沸石的合成,并用ＸＲＤ、ＤＴＡ、ＳＥＭ、白度计、钙离子交换度等进行表征。与传统水热处理法相比,微波法所得样品在结晶度、白度和钙离子交换能力方面均优势,且大大地加快了沸石晶化反应速率。经动力学处理,     

Robust Synthesis of Gold Nanotriangles and their Self-Assembly into Vertical Arrays

We report an efficient, seed-mediated method for the synthesis of gold nanotriangles (NTs) which can be used for controlled self-assembly. The main advantage of the proposed synthetic protocol is that it relies on using stable (over the course of several days) intermediate seeds. This stability translates into increasing time efficiency of the synthesis and makes the protocol experimentally less demanding (‘fast addition’ not required, tap water can be used in the final steps) as compared to previously reported procedures, without compromising the size and shape monodispersity of the product. We demonstrate high reproducibility of the protocol in the hands of different researchers and in different laboratories. Additionally, this modified seed-mediated method can be used to produce NTs with edge lengths between ca. 45 and 150 nm. Finally, the high ‘quality’ of NTs allows the preparation of long-range ordered assemblies with vertically oriented building blocks, which makes them promising candidates for future optoelectronic technologies.     

Catalysis based on nanocrystals with well-defined facets

Using bottom-up chemistry techniques, the composition, size, and shape in particular can now be controlled uniformly for each and every nanocrystal (NC). Research into shape-controlled NCs have shown that the catalytic properties of a material are sensitive not only to the size but also to the shape of the NCs as a consequence of well-defined facets. These findings are of great importance for modern heterogeneous catalysis research. First, a rational synthesis of catalysts might be achieved, since desired activity and selectivity would be acquired by simply tuning the shape, that is, the exposed crystal facets, of a NC catalyst. Second, shape-controlled NCs are relatively simple systems, in contrast to traditional complex solids, suggesting that they may serve as novel model catalysts to bridge the gap between model surfaces and real catalysts.     

小角X射线散射法研究CH2Cl2,CHCl3和CCl4对PE液晶结构的影响

采用小角X射线散射法研究了CH_2Cl_2、CHCl_3和CCl_4对磷脂酰乙醇胺(PE)液晶结构影响的机理.CH_3Cl_2、CHCl_3和CCl_4对PE液晶结构影响的差别主要是其空间旋转电子云密度分布形状不同所致.空间旋转电子云密度分布呈椭球状的物质有使PE液晶形成六角形H_1相的趋向;呈圆锥状的物质有诱发PE液晶形成立方六角相的趋向;呈球状的物质有使PE液晶形成片层立方相的趋向.     

Seed-mediated growth method for high-quality noble metal nanocrystals

This review highlights work from the authors’ laboratory on the recent development of seed-mediated growth method for noble metal nanocrystals. The seed-mediated growth method has become one of the most efficient and versatile methods for synthe-sizing high-quality noble metal nanocrystals. The seed-mediated growth method can separate the nucleation and growth stages of metal nanocrystals, and thus provide better control over the size, size distribution, and crystallographic evolution of metal nanocrystals. Because of its high controllability, the seed-mediated growth method is especially promising in providing mechanistic insights into the growth mechanisms of noble metal nanocrystals. In this review, the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for the nucleation and growth of noble metal nanocrystals are systematically summarized. Mechanistic understanding of these parameters is provided. These studies provide useful guidelines for the rational design and synthesis of novel noble metal nanocrystals with high quality.     

无机纳米晶的形貌调控及生长机理研究

形貌及尺寸规整可控的纳米晶体的合成是目前十分引人注目的纳米材料研究领域．制备合成中的形貌调控及其功能化是这些纳米材料能够得到应用的关键问题．研究者们希望在纳米晶的任一阶段均能实现控制并在期望的阶段停止,从而得到尺寸、形态、结构及组成确定的纳米晶体．本文综述了近年来无机纳米晶体的典型合成路径,深入探讨了纳米晶在成核、生长及熟化阶段的控制原理,研究了液相合成纳米材料过程中晶体结构与生长行为的相关性问题,并总结了几类具有代表性的低维、多维纳米晶体的形成规律和生长机理．探索纳米粒子的调控合成对于纳米材料的规模化生产及应用具有重要的理论价值和指导意义．     

Preparation of Pt／C Catalyst with Solid Phase Reaction Method

The Pt/C catalyst was prepared with solid phase reaction method (Pt/C(S)) for the first time.Its Performances were compared with that prepared by the traditional liquid phase reaction method. The results demonstrate that the electrocatalytic activity of Pt/C catalyst with solid phase reaction method for methanol oxidation is higher than that with liquid phase reaction method. XRD and TEM measurements indicate that the Pt/C(S) possesses low crystalline extent and small particle size.     

Phosphonic acids as stabilizing ligands for cadmium chalcogenide colloidal quantum dots

In this review we present the applications of phosphonic acids in high-temperature colloidal synthesis of cadmium chalcogenide quantum dots and anisotropic nanocrystals. The influence of these acids on the processes of nucleation and growth, particle shape and size, phase composition and luminescent properties is considered. It is shown that phosphonic acids can significantly increase luminescence quantum yield and time stability.     

Reversible Magnetic Agglomeration: A Mechanism for Thermodynamic Control over Nanoparticle Size

We present a method for the synthesis and precise size control of magnetic nanoparticles in a reversible magnetic agglomeration mechanism. In this approach, nanoparticles nucleate and grow until a critical susceptibility is reached, in which magnetic attraction overcomes dispersive forces, leading to agglomeration and precipitation. This phase change in the system arrests nanoparticle growth and gives true thermodynamic control over the size of nanoparticles. We then show that increasing the alkyl chain length of the surfactant, and hence increasing steric stabilization, allows nanoparticles to grow to larger sizes before agglomeration occurs. Therefore, simply by choosing the correct surfactant, the size and magnetic properties of iron nanoparticles can be tailored for a particular application. With the continuous addition of the precursor solution, we can repeat the steps of nucleation, growth, and magnetic agglomeration indefinitely, making the approach suitable for large scale syntheses.     

Shape- and phase-controlled synthesis of monodisperse, single-crystalline ternary chalcogenide colloids through a convenient solution synthesis strategy

Colloidal, monodisperse, single-crystalline pyramidal CuInS2 and rectangular AgInS2 nanocrystals were successfully synthesized through a convenient and improved solvothermal process that uses hexadecylamine as a capping reagent. The crystal phase, morphology, crystal lattice, and chemical composition of the as-prepared products were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Results revealed that the as-synthesized CuInS2 colloid is in the tetragonal phase (size: 13-17 nm) and the AgInS2 in the orthorhombic structure (size: 17+/-0.5 nm). A possible shape evolution and crystal growth mechanism has been suggested for the formation of pyramidal CuInS2 and rectangular AgInS2 colloids. Control experiments indicated that the morphology- and/or phase-change of CuInS2 and orthorhombic AgInS2 colloids are temperature- and/or time-dependent. CuInS2 colloids absorb well in the range of visible light at room-temperature, indicating its potential application as a solar absorber. Two photoluminescence (PL) subbands at 1.938 and 2.384 eV in the PL spectra of CuInS2 colloids revealed that the recombination of the closest and the second closest donor-acceptor pairs within the CuInS2 lattice, in which the donor defect (Cui) occupies an interstitial position and the acceptor defect (VIn) resides at an adjacent cation site. In addition, the synthesis strategy developed in this study is convenient and inexpensive, and could also be used as a general process for the synthesis of other pure or doped ternary chalcogenides that require a controlled size (or shape). This process could be extended to the synthesis of other functional nanomaterials.     

Direct synthesis of spatially-controlled Pt-on-Pd bimetallic nanodendrites with superior electrocatalytic activity

Here we report a facile synthesis of Pt-on-Pd bimetallic nanodendrites with a Pd interior and dendritic Pt exterior. The developed route rationally utilizes the spontaneous separation of the depositions of Pd and Pt, which endows direct formation of Pt-on-Pd nanodendrites. This is a truly simple and unique process that is quite different from the traditional seed-mediated growth strategy. Fine-tuning of the Pt and Pd ratios afforded Pt-on-Pd nanodendrites with superior electrocatalytic activity in comparison with commercial Pt electrocatalysts.     

General Strategy for Synthesis of Ordered Pt3M Intermetallics with Ultrasmall Particle Size

Controllable synthesis of atomically ordered intermetallic nanoparticles (NPs) is crucial to obtain superior electrocatalytic performance for fuel cell reactions, but still remains arduous. Herein, we demonstrate a novel and general hydrogel‐freeze drying strategy for the synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) supported Pt₃M (M=Mn, Cr, Fe, Co, etc.) intermetallic NPs (Pt₃M/rGO‐HF) with ultrasmall particle size (about 3 nm) and dramatic monodispersity. The formation of hydrogel prevents the aggregation of graphene oxide and significantly promotes their excellent dispersion, while a freeze‐drying can retain the hydrogel derived three‐dimensionally (3D) porous structure and immobilize the metal precursors with defined atomic ratio on GO support during solvent sublimation, which is not afforded by traditional oven drying. The subsequent annealing process produces rGO supported ultrasmall ordered Pt₃M intermetallic NPs (≈3 nm) due to confinement effect of 3D porous structure. Such Pt₃M intermetallic NPs exhibit the smallest particle size among the reported ordered Pt‐based intermetallic catalysts. A detailed study of the synthesis of ordered intermetallic Pt₃Mn/rGO catalyst is provided as an example of a generally applicable method. This study provides an economical and scalable route for the controlled synthesis of Pt‐based intermetallic catalysts, which can pave a way for the commercialization of fuel cell technologies.     

Amorphous Calcium Phosphates: Solvent-Controlled Growth and Stabilization through the Epoxide Route

Calcium phosphates stand among the most promising nanobiomaterials in key biomedical applications, such as bone repairment, signalling or drug/gene delivery. Their intrinsic properties as crystalline structure, composition, particle shape and size define their successful use. Among these compounds, metastable amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) is currently gaining particular attention due to its inherently high reactivity in solution, which is crucial in bone development mechanisms. However, the preparation of this highly desired (bio)material with control over its shape, size and phase purity remains as a synthetic challenge. In this work, the epoxide route was adapted for the synthesis of pure and stable ACP colloids. By using biocompatible solvents, such as ethylene glycol and/or glycerine, it was possible to avoid the natural tendency of ACP to maturate into more stable and crystalline apatites. Moreover, this procedure offers size control, ranging from small nanoparticles (60 nm) to micrometric spheroids (>500 nm). The eventual fractalization of the internal mesostructured can be tuned, by simply adjusting the composition of the ethylene glycol:glycerine solvent mixture. These findings introduce the use of green solvents as a new tool to control crystallinity and/or particle size in the synthesis of nanomaterials, avoiding the use of capping agents and preserving the natural chemical reactivity of the pristine surface.     

Coordination‐Directed Growth of Transition‐Metal–Crystalline‐Carbon Composites with Controllable Metal Composition

Transition‐metal–carbon (CTM) composites show ample activity in many catalytic reactions. However, control of composition, distribution, and properties is challenging. Now, a straightforward path for the synthesis of transition‐metal nanoparticles engulfed in crystalline carbon is presented with excellent control over the metal composition, amount, ratio, and catalytic properties. This approach uses molten monomers that coordinate metals ions at high temperature. At high temperatures, strong coordination bonds direct the growth of carbon material with homogeneous metals distribution and with negligible losses, owing to the liquid‐like reaction compared to the traditional solid‐state reaction. The strength of the approach is demonstrated by the synthesis of mono, binary, and trinary transition‐metal–crystalline‐carbon composites with tunable and precise elemental composition as well as good electrochemical properties as oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts.