Selective blocking of active sites on supported gold catalysts by adsorbed thiols and its effect on the catalytic behavior: A combined experimental and theoretical study

Photocatalytic Hedgehog Particles for High Ionic Strength Environments

High ionic strength environments can profoundly influence catalytic reactions involving charged species. However, control of selectivity and yield of heterogeneous catalytic reactions involving nano- and microscale colloids remains hypothetical because high ionic strength leads to aggregation of particle dispersions. Here we show that microscale hedgehog particles (HPs) with semiconductor nanoscale spikes display enhanced stability in solutions of monovalent/divalent salts in both aqueous and hydrophobic media. HPs enable tuning of photocatalytic reactions toward high-value products by adding concentrated inert salts to amplify local electrical fields in agreement with Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek theory. After optimization of HP geometry for a model photocatalytic reaction, we show that high salt conditions increase the yield of HP-facilitated photooxidation of 2-phenoxy-1-phenylethanol to benzaldehyde and 2-phenoxyacetophenone by 6 and 35 times, respectively. Depending on salinity, electrical fields at the HP-media interface increase from 1.7 × 10⁴ V/m to 8.5 × 10⁷ V/m, with high fields favoring products generated via intermediate cation radicals rather than neutral species. Electron transfer rates were modulated by varying the ionic strength, which affords a convenient and hardly used reaction pathway for engineering a multitude of redox reactions including those involved in the environmental remediation of briny and salty water.

Hydrolysis of organometallic and metal–amide precursors: synthesis routes to oxo-bridged heterometallic complexes, metal-oxo clusters and metal oxide nanoparticles

Organometallic and metal amide reagents react with –OH groups to generate metal–oxygen connectivity, yielding metal-oxo heterobimetallics, clusters and nanoparticles.

Elucidating the active sites for CO2 electroreduction on ligand-protected Au25 nanoclusters

This work reveals the mechanism of CO₂ electrochemical reduction on ligand-protected Au nanoclusters and catalytic sites responsible for increased selectivity towards CO.

The role and fate of capping ligands in colloidally prepared metal nanoparticle catalysts

In this Perspective article, we highlight emerging opportunities for the rational design of catalysts upon the choice, exchange, partial removal or pyrolysis of ligands.

Surface Ligand-Mediated Plasmon-Driven Photochemical Reactions

Contrary to the general expectation that surface ligands reduce the reactivity of surfaces by blocking the active sites, we present experimental evidence that surface ligands can in fact increase reactivity and induce important reaction pathways in plasmon-driven surface photochemistry. The remarkable effect of surface ligands is demonstrated by comparing the photochemistry of p-aminothiophenol (PATP) on resonant plasmonic gold nanorods (AuNRs) in the presence of citrate, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and no surface ligands under visible light irradiation. The use of AuNRs with citrate and no surface ligand results in the usual azo-coupling reaction. In contrast, CTAB-coated AuNRs oxidize PATP primarily to p-nitrothiophenol (PNTP). Strong correlation has been observed between the N-O and Au-Br vibration band intensities, suggesting that CTAB influences the reaction pathway through the Br^- counterions that can minimize the electron-hole recombination rate by reacting with the hole and hence increasing the concentration of hot electrons that drive the oxidation reaction.

Colloidal Cu/ZnO catalysts for the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to methanol: investigating catalyst preparation and ligand effects

This paper reports on the influences of the catalyst preparation method and ligand effects for a series of highly active Cu/ZnO colloidal catalysts for the hydrogenation of CO₂ to methanol.

Selective Adsorption of Thiols Using Gold Nanoparticles Supported on Metal Oxides

Selective capture of thiols from a synthetic hydrogen sulfide containing mixture using supported nanogold materials has been explored for the potential removal of thiols from sour gas production fluids. In this research, TiO2-, Al2O3-, SiO2-, and ZnO-supported gold nanoparticles have been studied for their usage as regeneratable adsorbents to capture CH3SH, C2H5SH, and i-C3H7SH. Au/TiO2 and Au/Al2O3 showed promising properties for removing the thiols efficiently from a gas-phase mixture; however, Au/Al2O3 did catalyze some undesirable side reactions, e.g., carbonyl sulfide formation. It was found that a mild temperature of T = 200 °C was sufficient for regeneration of either Au/TiO2 or Au/Al2O3 adsorbent. The metal oxide mesopores played an important role for accommodating gold particles and chemisorption of the thiols, where smaller pore sizes were found to inhibit the agglomeration/growth of gold particles. The nature of thiol adsorption and the impact of multiple adsorption-desorption cycles on the adsorbents have been studied using electron microscopy, XPS, XRD, GC, and physi/chemiadsorption analyses.

Synthesis of supported metal nanoparticle catalysts using ligand assisted methods

The synthesis and characterization methods of metal nanoparticles (NPs) have advanced greatly in the last few decades, allowing an increasing understanding of structure-property-performance relationships. However, the role played by the ligands used as stabilizers for metal NPs synthesis or for NPs immobilization on solid supports has been underestimated. Here, we highlight some recent progress in the preparation of supported metal NPs with the assistance of ligands in solution or grafted on solid supports, a modified deposition-reduction method, with special attention to the effects on NPs size, metal-support interactions and, more importantly, catalytic activities. After presenting the general strategies in metal NP synthesis assisted by ligands grafted on solid supports, we highlight some recent progress in the deposition of pre-formed colloidal NPs on functionalized solids. Another important aspect that will be reviewed is related to the separation and recovery of NPs. Finally, we will outline our personal understanding and perspectives on the use of supported metal NPs prepared through ligand-assisted methods.

Ceria-based solid catalysts for organic chemistry

Ceria has been the subject of thorough investigations, mainly because of its use as an active component of catalytic converters for the treatment of exhaust gases. However, ceria-based catalysts have also been developed for different applications in organic chemistry. The redox and acid-base properties of ceria, either alone or in the presence of transition metals, are important parameters that allow to activate complex organic molecules and to selectively orient their transformation. Pure ceria is used in several organic reactions, such as the dehydration of alcohols, the alkylation of aromatic compounds, ketone formation, and aldolization, and in redox reactions. Ceria-supported metal catalysts allow the hydrogenation of many unsaturated compounds. They can also be used for coupling or ring-opening reactions. Cerium atoms can be added as dopants to catalytic system or impregnated onto zeolites and mesoporous catalyst materials to improve their performances. This Review demonstrates that the exceptional surface (and sometimes bulk) properties of ceria make cerium-based catalysts very effective for a broad range of organic reactions.