A Robust Synthesis of Co2P and Ni2P Nanocatalysts from Hexaethylaminophosphine and Phosphine-Enhanced Phenylacetylene Hydrogenation

Metal-rich phases of general formula M2P have demonstrated interesting catalytic activity, e.g., for hydrogen evolution reaction and for hydrogenations in colloidal suspension. The production of well-crystallized nanoparticles of the M2P phase from commercial precursors on a large enough scale is not trivial as the existing routes generally require fairly high reaction temperatures and a large excess of the phosphorus source. Here, we selected a commercial aminophosphine, P(NEt2)3, as the phosphorus precursor (3 equiv or less) to develop a robust synthesis from CoCl2 (respectively NiCl2) that provided crystalline Co2P (respectively Ni2P) nanoparticles with high yields on a 9 mmol scale. Moreover, modification of the M2P nanoparticles via the addition of a molecular Lewis base is a promising route to trigger catalytic activity of the colloidal suspension at a lower temperature. For the hydrogenation of phenylacetylene catalyzed by Co2P and Ni2P nanoparticles, we showed that catalytic amounts of adequate phosphines, such as PnBu3 and also, in some instances, oleylamine, triggered a full conversion at lower temperatures than with the nanoparticles alone. We delineated the most efficient phosphines in the case of a Ni2P catalyst, using a stereoelectronic map of 13 phosphines.

Boron-Doped Dinickel Phosphide to Enhance Polysulfide Conversion and Suppress Shuttling in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are promising for next-generation high-energy energy storage systems. However, the slow reaction kinetics render mobile polysulfides hardly controlled, yielding shuttling effects and eventually damaging Li metal anodes. To improve the cyclability of Li-S batteries, high-efficiency catalysts are desired to accelerate polysulfide conversion and suppress the shuttling effect. Herein, we studied a doping system with Ni2P and Ni2B as the end members and found a B-doped Ni2P catalyst that demonstrates high activity for Li-S batteries. As anionic dopants, B demonstrates an interesting reverse electron transfer to P and tunes the electronic structure of Ni2P dramatically. The resultant B-doped Ni2P exhibits short Ni-B bonds and strong Ni-S interaction, and the electron donation of B to P further enhances the adsorption of polysulfide on catalysts. The S-S bonds of polysulfides were activated appropriately, therefore decreasing a low energy barrier for conversion reactions.

Controlled Surface Modification of Cobalt Phosphide with Sulfur Tunes Hydrogenation Catalysis

Transition metal phosphides have shown promise as catalysts for water splitting and hydrotreating, especially when a small amount of sulfur is incorporated into the phosphides. However, the effect of sulfur on catalysis is not well understood. In part, this is because conventional preparation methods of sulfur-doped transition metal phosphides lead to sulfur both inside and at the surface of the material. Here, we present an alternative method of modifying cobalt phosphide (CoP) with sulfur using molecular S-transfer reagents, namely, phosphine sulfides (SPR3). SPR3 added sulfur to the surface of CoP and using a series of SPR3 reagents having different P═S bond strengths enabled control over the amount and type of sulfur transferred. Our results show that there is a distribution of different sulfur sites possible on the CoP surface with S-binding strengths in the range of 69 to 84 kcal/mol. This provides fundamental information on how sulfur binds to an amorphous CoP surface and provides a basis to assess how number and type of sulfur on CoP influences catalysis. For the catalytic hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde, intermediate amounts of sulfur with intermediate binding strengths at the surface of CoP were optimal. With some but not too much sulfur, CoP exhibited a higher hydrogenation productivity and a decreased formation of secondary reaction products. Our work provides important insight into the S-effect on the catalysis by transition metal phosphides and opens new avenues for catalyst design.

CO2 Conversion via Reverse Water Gas Shift Reaction Using Fully Selective Mo–P Multicomponent Catalysts

The reverse water gas shift reaction (RWGS) has attracted much attention as a potential means to widespread utilization of CO₂ through the production of synthesis gas. However, for commercial implementation of RWGS at the scales needed to replace fossil feedstocks with CO₂, new catalysts must be developed using earth abundant materials, and these catalysts must suppress the competing methanation reaction completely while maintaining stable performance at elevated temperatures and high conversions producing large quantities of water. Herein we identify molybdenum phosphide (MoP) as a nonprecious metal catalyst that satisfies these requirements. Supported MoP catalysts completely suppress methanation while undergoing minimal deactivation, opening up possibilities for their use in CO₂ utilization.

Current State of the Art of the Solid Rh-Based Catalyzed Hydroformylation of Short-Chain Olefins

The hydroformylation of olefins is one of the most important homogeneously catalyzed processes in industry to produce bulk chemicals. Despite the high catalytic activities and selectivity’s using rhodium-based homogeneous hydroformylation catalysts, catalyst recovery and recycling from the reaction mixture remain a challenging topic on a process level. Therefore, technical solutions involving alternate approaches with heterogeneous catalysts for the conversion of olefins into aldehydes have been considered and research activities have addressed the synthesis and development of heterogeneous rhodium-based hydroformylation catalysts. Different strategies were pursued by different groups of authors, such as the deposition of molecular rhodium complexes, metallic rhodium nanoparticles and single-atom catalysts on a solid support as well as rhodium complexes present in supported liquids. An overview of the recent developments made in the area of the heterogenization of homogeneous rhodium catalysts and their application in the hydroformylation of short-chain olefins is given. A special focus is laid on the mechanistic understanding of the heterogeneously catalyzed reactions at a molecular level in order to provide a guide for the future design of rhodium-based heterogeneous hydroformylation catalysts.

Binary and ternary transition metal phosphides for dry reforming of methane

Mo-based phosphides showed higher activity for CH₄–CO₂ reforming than Fe₂P, WP, CoP and Ni₂P.

Novel synthesis of a NiMoP phosphide catalyst in a CH4-CO2 gas mixture

NiMo bimetallic phosphide was synthesized from its corresponding oxidic precursor in a 1 : 1 CH₄ : CO₂ gas mixture for the first time. The in situ synthesized NiMoP phase in the feed for CH₄-CO₂ reforming can exhibit a higher activity compared to the one prepared in H₂.

Converting bimetallic M (M = Ni, Co, or Fe)-Sn nanoparticles into phosphides: a general strategy for the synthesis of ternary metal phosphide nanocrystals

Ternary metal tin phosphides are promising candidates for electrochemical or catalytic applications. Nevertheless, their synthesis, neither as bulk nor nanomaterials is well investigated in the literature. Here, we describe a general synthetic strategy to convert bimetallic M-Sn (M = Ni, Co, and Fe) nanoparticles to ternary metal phosphides by decomposition of tributylphosphine at 300 °C. At high phosphorus concentrations, Ni₃Sn₄ nanoparticles convert to hybrid structured Ni₂SnP and β-Sn. The CoSn₂ and FeSn₂ nanoparticles undergo a phosphorization, too and form hybrid nanocrystals reported here for the first time, containing ternary or binary phosphides. We identified the crystal structure of the nanoparticles via XRD and HRTEM measurements using the diffraction data given for Ni₂SnP in literature. We were able to locate the Ni₂SnP and β-Sn crystal structure within the nanoparticles to demonstrate the phase composition of the nanoparticles. By transferring the synthesis to cobalt and iron, we obtained nanoparticles exhibiting similar hybrid structures and ternary element compositions for Co-Sn-P and binary Fe-P and FeSn₂ compositions. In the last step, we used the given information to propose a conversion mechanism from the binary M-Sn nanoparticles through phosphorization.

Transition metal trifluoroacetates (M = Fe, Co, Mn) as precursors for uniform colloidal metal difluoride and phosphide nanoparticles

We report a simple one-pot synthesis of uniform transition metal difluoride MF₂ (M = Fe, Mn, Co) nanorods based on transition metal trifluoroacetates (TMTFAs) as single-source precursors. The synthesis of metal fluorides is based on the thermolysis of TMTFAs at 250–320 °C in trioctylphosphine/trioctylphosphine oxide solvent mixtures. The FeF₂ nanorods were converted into FeF₃ nanorods by reaction with gaseous fluorine. The TMTFA precursors are also found to be suitable for the synthesis of colloidal transition metal phosphides. Specifically, we report that the thermolysis of a cobalt trifluoroacetate complex in trioctylphosphine as both the solvent and the phosphorus source can yield 20 nm long cobalt phosphide nanorods or, 3 nm large cobalt phosphide nanoparticles. We also assess electrochemical lithiation/de-lithiation of the obtained FeF₂ and FeF₃ nanomaterials.

Transition Metal Phosphides for the Catalytic Hydrodeoxygenation of Waste Oils into Green Diesel

Recently, catalysts based on transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have attracted increasing interest for their use in hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) processes destined to synthesize biofuels (green or renewable diesel) from waste vegetable oils and fats (known as hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO)), or from bio-oils. This fossil-free diesel product is produced completely from renewable raw materials with exceptional quality. These efficient HDO catalysts present electronic properties similar to noble metals, are cost-efficient, and are more stable and resistant to the presence of water than other classical catalytic formulations used for hydrotreatment reactions based on transition metal sulfides, but they do not require the continuous supply of a sulfide source. TMPs develop a bifunctional character (metallic and acidic) and present tunable catalytic properties related to the metal type, phosphorous-metal ratio, support nature, texture properties, and so on. Here, the recent progress in TMP-based catalysts for HDO of waste oils is reviewed. First, the use of TMPs in catalysis is addressed; then, the general aspects of green diesel (from bio-oils or from waste vegetable oils and fats) production by HDO of nonedible oil compounds are presented; and, finally, we attempt to describe the main advances in the development of catalysts based on TMPs for HDO, with an emphasis on the influence of the nature of active phases and effects of phosphorous, promoters, and preparation methods on reactivity.

Bi-Metal Phosphide NiCoP: An Enhanced Catalyst for the Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol

Porous phosphide NixCoyP composite nanomaterials are successfully synthesized at different Ni/Co ratios (=0, 0.5, 1, and 2) to reduce 4-nitrophenol. The X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results demonstrate that the products are CoP, NiCoP/CoP, NiCoP, and NiCoP/Ni₂P when the Ni/Co ratio is 0, 0.5, 1, and 2, respectively. The products exhibit different catalytic performance for reduction of 4-nitrophenol at room temperature. Among them, the pure NiCoP delivers a better catalytic efficiency with k app = 677.4 × 10 - 2   min - 1 and k = 338.7   ( Lg - 1 min - 1 ) , due to the synergy between Ni and Co atoms. The sequence of catalytic efficiency of different samples is CoP < NiCoP/CoP < NiCoP/Ni₂P < NiCoP.

Zeolite Y supported nickel phosphide catalysts for the hydrodenitrogenation of quinoline as a proxy for crude bio-oils from hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae

The catalytic activity of nickel phosphide catalysts on different zeolite Y supports is investigated for the upgrading of algal bio-oils.

A New Approach to the Synthesis of Transition Metal Phosphide Nanocrystallites (MoP, MoP2, Cu3P and CuP2) by Using Reaction Under Autogenic Pressure at Elevated Temperatures (RAPET) Technique

The reaction under autogenic pressure at elevated temperature (RAPET) technique is proposed for synthesizing a series of metal phosphide nanoparticles such as MoP, MoP2, Cu3P and CuP2 at 850[Formula: see text]C for 3.50[Formula: see text]h by reacting selectively the transition metal powders with elemental phosphorus. The obtained products are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A reaction mechanism is suggested based on the experimental results.

Engineered magnetic core shell nanoprobes: Synthesis and applications to cancer imaging and therapeutics

Magnetic core shell nanoparticles are composed of a highly magnetic core material surrounded by a thin shell of desired drug, polymer or metal oxide. These magnetic core shell nanoparticles have a wide range of applications in biomedical research, more specifically in tissue imaging, drug delivery and therapeutics. The present review discusses the up-to-date knowledge on the various procedures for synthesis of magnetic core shell nanoparticles along with their applications in cancer imaging, drug delivery and hyperthermia or cancer therapeutics. Literature in this area shows that magnetic core shell nanoparticle-based imaging, drug targeting and therapy through hyperthermia can potentially be a powerful tool for the advanced diagnosis and treatment of various cancers.

Hydrogen evolution catalyzed by cobalt-promoted molybdenum phosphide nanoparticles

Co-promoted molybdenum phosphide nanoparticles have been successfully prepared and explored for the first time as a cost-effective electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).

One-step synthesis of nickel and cobalt phosphide nanomaterials via decomposition of hexamethylenetetramine-containing precursors

New hexamethylenetetramine (HMT)-containing precursors were used to prepare well dispersed Ni₂P and Co₂P nanoparticles.

STRUCTURES AND ELECTRONIC PROPERTIES OF A Co2P CLUSTER DEPOSITED ON THE RUTILE TiO2(110) SURFACE BY FIRST–PRINCIPLES CALCULATIONS

The structures and electronic properties of different Co2P -supporting configurations on the rutile TiO2 (110) surface have been investigated by first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A number of possible structural candidates and adsorption sites have been considered, while the calculations are executed on periodic systems using slab model. Our results indicate that the O atoms on TiO2 (110) turn out to be preferable for the cluster to adsorb by Co atoms, with the largest adsorption energy of 211.50 kJ/mol in the most favorable model. According to the Mulliken charge analysis, the Co2P cluster carries a significant positive charge after adsorption, due to the charge transfer occurring from the adsorbate to the substrate. Moreover, the frontier molecular orbital analysis shows that the cluster-surface binding occurs mostly through the interplay of filled Co 3d orbital with unoccupied eigenstates of surface localized on O 2p orbital, which can be also corroborated by the projected density of states investigations, while the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital is mostly contributed by Ti 3d orbital of the surface. In addition, of particular significance is that deposition of Co2P on the rutile TiO2 (110) surface results in a small band gap narrowing vis-à-vis the pure surface, yielding a positive effect on catalytic activity.