Local Field Induced Mass Transfer: New Insight into Nano-electrocatalysis

Unravelling the complex kinetics of electrocatalysis is essential for the design of electrocatalysts with high performance. Mass transfer and electron transfer are two primary factors that need to be optimized in order to enhance electrocatalytic reactions. The use of nanocatalysts proves to be a promising way of promoting the performance of electrocatalytic reactions, this improvement is usually attributed to their ability to enhance electron transfer. However, when catalysts are taken down to the nanoscale, their size is comparable to the thickness of an electrical double layer, so any curvature can lead to an inhomogeneous local electric field on the electrode, which then changes the mass transfer essentially. In this article, we introduce the new concept of local-field-induced mass transfer in nano-electrocatalytic systems, and provide a brief review of recent progress, revealing its effect on nano-electrocatalysis, which may bring new insight into the future design of nano-electrocatalysts.     

Isolated Platinum Atoms Stabilized by Amorphous Tungstenic Acid: Metal–Support Interaction for Synergistic Oxygen Activation

Oxygen activation plays a crucial role in many important chemical reactions such as oxidation of organic compounds and oxygen reduction. For developing highly active materials for oxygen activation, herein, we report an atomically dispersed Pt on WO₃ nanoplates stabilized by in situ formed amorphous H₂WO₄ out‐layer and the mechanism for activating molecular oxygen. Experimental and theoretical studies demonstrate that the isolated Pt atoms coordinated with oxygen atoms from [WO₆] and water of H₂WO₄, consequently leading to optimized surface electronic configuration and strong metal–support interaction (SMSI). In exemplified reactions of butanone oxidation sensing and oxygen reduction, the atomic Pt/WO₃ hybrid exhibits superior activity than those of Pt nanoclusters/WO₃ and bare WO₃ as well as enhanced long‐term durability. This work will provide insight into the origin of activity and stability for atomically dispersed materials, thus promoting the development of highly efficient and durable single atom‐based catalysts.     

Pt-FeOx催化剂微结构对催化CO氧化性能的影响

借助较为成熟的纳米技术手段,采用PVP为保护剂、乙二醇为还原剂制备具有不同Pt/Fe比例的双金属纳米粒子,最终通过氧化处理获得具有不同微结构环境的纳米Pt-FeO_x催化剂,并以此为模型考察它们对CO氧化性能的影响。结果表明FeO_x物种的数量一方面影响Pt物种的价态,同时也影响Fe物种自身的氧化还原性质,这些性质直接和间接地影响着CO和氧分子的活化,Pt周围适量FeO_x物种的存在对构建高活性CO氧化催化剂有利。     

Synthesis of green nanocatalysts and industrially important green reactions

Abstract

There is a growing interest in applying green chemistry for nanocatalysis applications. On the basis of a Scifinder Scholar search, the field of applying green chemistry to catalysis with nanoparticles has undergone an explosive growth from year 2002 to present. It can be seen that green chemistry applied to nanocatalysis is a relatively hot area with much room for growth. I discuss several review articles written about the use of green nanocatalysts as well as green reactions. I discuss studies involving the synthesis of green nanocatalysts and application of metal nanocatalysts in green reactions. I have organized the discussion of green nanocatalysts by the type of nanoparticles that are synthesized and used as catalysts. I have organized discussions of green reactions by the type of green reaction that is being conducted. Overall, our review article discusses developments in new types of green nanocatalysts as well as developments in green catalytic reactions.     

Hydrogen Isotope Exchange Catalyzed by Ru Nanocatalysts: Labelling of Complex Molecules Containing N-Heterocycles and Reaction Mechanism Insights

Ruthenium nanocatalysis can provide effective deuteration and tritiation of oxazole, imidazole, triazole and carbazole substructures in complex molecules using D₂ or T₂ gas as isotopic sources. Depending on the substructure considered, this approach does not only represent a significant step forward in practice, with notably higher isotope uptakes, a broader substrate scope and a higher solvent applicability compared to existing procedures, but also the unique way to label important heterocycles using hydrogen isotope exchange. In terms of applications, the high incorporation of deuterium atoms, allows the synthesis of internal standards for LC-MS quantification. Moreover, the efficacy of the catalyst permits, even under subatmospheric pressure of T₂ gas, the preparation of complex radiolabeled drugs owning high molar activities. From a fundamental point of view, a detailed DFT-based mechanistic study identifying undisclosed key intermediates, allowed a deeper understanding of C−H (and N−H) activation processes occurring at the surface of metallic nanoclusters.     

Rare‐Earth Single Erbium Atoms for Enhanced Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction

The solar‐driven photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ (CO₂RR) into chemical fuels is a promising route to enrich energy supplies and mitigate CO₂ emissions. However, low catalytic efficiency and poor selectivity, especially in a pure‐water system, hinder the development of photocatalytic CO₂RR owing to the lack of effective catalysts. Herein, we report a novel atom‐confinement and coordination (ACC) strategy to achieve the synthesis of rare‐earth single erbium (Er) atoms supported on carbon nitride nanotubes (Er₁/CN‐NT) with a tunable dispersion density of single atoms. Er₁/CN‐NT is a highly efficient and robust photocatalyst that exhibits outstanding CO₂RR performance in a pure‐water system. Experimental results and density functional theory calculations reveal the crucial role of single Er atoms in promoting photocatalytic CO₂RR.     

Resonance scattering spectral detection of ultratrace IgG using immunonanogold-HAuCl_4-NH_2OH catalytic reaction

Nanogold particles of 10 nm were used to label goat anti-human IgG (GIgG) to obtain nanogold-labeled GIgG (AuGIgG). In a citrate-HCl buffer solution of pH 2.27,AuGIgG showed a strong catalytic effect on the reaction between HAuCl4 and NH2OH to form big gold particles that exhibited a resonance scatter-ing (RS) peak at 796 nm. Under the chosen conditions,AuGIgG combined with IgG to form immuno-complex AuGIgG-IgG that can be removed by centrifuging at 16000 r/min. AuGIgG in the centrifuging solution also showed catalytic effect on the reaction. On those grounds,an immunonanogold catalytic RS assay for IgG was designed. With addition of IgG,the amount of AuGIgG in the centrifuging solution decreased; the RS intensity at 796 nm (I796 nm) decreased linearly. The decreased intensity ΔI796 nm was linear with respect to the IgG concentration in the range of 0.08-16.0 ng·mL-1 with a detection limit of 0.02 ng·mL-1. This assay was applied to analysis of IgG in sera with satisfactory sensitivity,selectivity and rapidity.     

Insights into the Catalytic Activity of Nitridated Fibrous Silica (KCC‐1) Nanocatalysts from 15N and 29Si NMR Spectroscopy Enhanced by Dynamic Nuclear Polarization

Fibrous nanosilica (KCC‐1) oxynitrides are promising solid‐base catalysts. Paradoxically, when their nitrogen content increases, their catalytic activity decreases. This counterintuitive observation is explained here for the first time using ¹⁵N‐solid‐state NMR spectroscopy enhanced by dynamic nuclear polarization.     

选择性控制的配体工程在金团簇催化中的作用

金团簇表面的硫醇配体影响着团簇的催化性质,尤其是选择性.我们采用在真空条件下通过程序升温的方法逐渐剥除金团簇表面的硫醇配体来制备催化剂,利用透射电镜,红外光谱对催化剂结构进行表征,以硝基化合物催化还原反应为模型反应,详细研究了配体对催化活性和选择性的影响.研究发现因配体被剥离导致底物更容易接近团簇表面,最终使得反应转换率大幅升高.实验结果还表明金团簇催化剂催化不同官能团取代的底物显示了良好的官能团兼容性,有吸电子效应的硫配体使团簇表面带正电荷,进而避免苯胺衍生物的产生.