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Sun Z, Wang J, Su L, Gu Z, Wu XP, Chen W, Ma W. Dynamic Evolution and Reversibility of a Single Au 25 Nanocluster for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction. J Am Chem Soc 2024. [PMID: 38994646 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c03939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Ultrasmall metallic nanoclusters (NCs) protected by surface ligands represent the most promising catalytic materials; yet understanding the structure and catalytic activity of these NCs remains a challenge due to dynamic evolution of their active sites under reaction conditions. Herein, we employed a single-nanoparticle collision electrochemistry method for real-time monitoring of the dynamic electrocatalytic activity of a single fully ligand-protected Au25(PPh3)10(SC2H4Ph)5Cl22+ nanocluster (Au252+ NC) at a cavity carbon nanoelectrode toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Our experimental results and computational simulations indicated that the reversible depassivation and passivation of ligands on the surface of the Au252+ NC, combined with the dynamic conformation evolution of the Au259+ core, led to a characteristic current signal that involves "ON-OFF" switches and "ON" fluctuations during the ORR process of a single Au252+ NC. Our findings reinvent the new perception and comprehension of the structure-activity correlation of NCs at the atomic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehui Sun
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Jia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Industrial Catalysis, Centre for Computational Chemistry and Research Institute of Industrial Catalysis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Lei Su
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Zhihao Gu
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Xin-Ping Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Industrial Catalysis, Centre for Computational Chemistry and Research Institute of Industrial Catalysis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, PR China
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun 130022, PR China
| | - Wei Ma
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, PR China
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Aruchamy G, Kim BK. Recent Trends and Perspectives in Single-Entity Electrochemistry: A Review with Focus on a Water Splitting Reaction. Crit Rev Anal Chem 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38829955 DOI: 10.1080/10408347.2024.2358492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Electrochemical measurements involving single nanoparticles have attracted considerable research attention. In recent years, various studies have been conducted on single-entity electrochemistry (SEE) for the in-depth analyses of catalytic reactions. Although, several electrocatalysts have been developed for H2 energy production, designing innovative electrocatalysts for this purpose remains a challenging task. Stochastic collision electrochemistry is gaining increased attention because it has led to new findings in the SEE field. Importantly, it facilitates establishing structure activity relationships for electrocatalysts by monitoring transient signals. This article reviews the recent achievements related to hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) using different electrocatalysts at the nanoscale level. In particular, it discusses the electrocatalytic activities of noble metal nanoparticles, including Ag, Au, Pt, and Pd nanoparticles, at the single-particle level. Because heterogeneity is a key factor affecting the catalytic activity of nanostructures, our work focuses on the influence of heterogeneities in catalytic materials on the OER and HER activities. These results may help to achieve a better understanding of the fundamental processes involved in the water splitting reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gowrisankar Aruchamy
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Kwon Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Madawala H, Puri SR, Weaver D, Kim J. Pb 2+-Selective Nanoemulsion-Integrated Single-Entity Electrochemistry for Ultrasensitive Sensing of Blood Lead. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:3004-3014. [PMID: 38294191 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Unequivocally, Pb2+ as a harmful substance damaging children's brain and nerve systems, thereby causing behavior and learning disabilities, should be detected much lower than the elevated blood lead for children, 240 nM, endorsed by US CDC considering the unknown neurotoxic effects, yet the ultralow detection limit up to sub-ppb level remains a challenge due to the intrinsically insufficient sensitivity in the current analytical techniques. Here, we present nanoemulsion (NE)-integrated single-entity electrochemistry (NI-SEE) toward ultrasensitive sensing of blood lead using Pb-ion-selective ionophores inside a NE, i.e., Pb2+-selective NE. Through the high thermodynamic selectivity between Pb2+ and Pb-ionophore IV, and the extremely large partition coefficient for the Pb2+-Pb-ionophore complex inside NEs, we modulate the selectivity and sensitivity of NI-SEE for Pb2+ sensing up to an unprecedentedly low detection limit, 20 ppt in aqueous solutions, and lower limit of quantitation, 40 ppb in blood serums. This observation is supported by molecular dynamics simulations, which clearly corroborate intermolecular interactions, e.g., H-bonding and π*-n, between the aromatic rings of Pb-ionophore and lone pair electrons of oxygen in dioctyl sebacate (DOS), plasticizers of NEs, subsequently enhancing the current intensity in NI-SEE. Moreover, the highly sensitive sensing of Pb2+ is enabled by the appropriate suppression of hydroxyl radical formation during NI-SEE under a cathodic potential applied to a Pt electrode. Overall, the experimentally demonstrated NI-SEE approach and the results position our new sensing technology as potential sensors for practical environmental and biomedical applications as well as a platform to interrogate the stoichiometry of target ion-ionophore recognition inside a NE as nanoreactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiranya Madawala
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
| | - Surendra Raj Puri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
| | - Delaney Weaver
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
| | - Jiyeon Kim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
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Ding Q, Sun Z, Ma W. Probing conformational kinetics of catalase with and without magnetic field by single-entity collision electrochemistry. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2023; 68:2564-2573. [PMID: 37718236 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2023.08.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
The conformational motions of enzymes are crucial for their catalytic activities, but these fluctuations are usually spontaneous and unsynchronized and thus difficult to obtain from ensemble-averaged measurements. Here, we employ label-free single-entity electrochemical measurements to monitor in real time the fluctuating enzymatic behavior of single catalase molecules toward the degradation of hydrogen peroxide. By probing the electrochemical signals of single catalase molecules at a carbon nanoelectrode, we were able to observe three distinct current traces that could be attributed to conformational changes on the sub-millisecond timescale. Whereas, nearly uniform single long peaks were observed for single catalase molecules under a moderate magnetic field due to the restricted conformational changes of catalase. By combining high-resolution current signals with a multiphysics simulation model, we studied the catalytic kinetics of catalase with and without a magnetic field, and further estimated the maximum catalytic rate and conformational transition rate. This work introduces a new complementary approach to existing single-molecule enzymology, giving further insight into the enzymatic reaction mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingdan Ding
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Zehui Sun
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wei Ma
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.
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Zhou K, Maugard V, Zhang W, Zhou J, Zhang X. Effects of Gas Type, Oil, Salts and Detergent on Formation and Stability of Air and Carbon Dioxide Bubbles Produced by Using a Nanobubble Generator. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:nano13091496. [PMID: 37177046 PMCID: PMC10180106 DOI: 10.3390/nano13091496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Recent developments in ultrafine bubble generation have opened up new possibilities for applications in various fields. Herein, we investigated how substances in water affect the size distribution and stability of microbubbles generated by a common nanobubble generator. By combining light scattering techniques with optical microscopy and high-speed imaging, we were able to track the evolution of microbubbles over time during and after bubble generation. Our results showed that air injection generated a higher number of microbubbles (<10 μm) than CO2 injection. Increasing detergent concentration led to a rapid increase in the number of microbubbles generated by both air and CO2 injection and the intensity signal detected by dynamic light scattering (DLS) slightly increased. This suggested that surface-active molecules may inhibit the growth and coalescence of bubbles. In contrast, we found that salts (NaCl and Na2CO3) in water did not significantly affect the number or size distribution of bubbles. Interestingly, the presence of oil in water increased the intensity signal and we observed that the bubbles were coated with an oil layer. This may contribute to the stability of bubbles. Overall, our study sheds light on the effects of common impurities on bubble generation and provides insights for analyzing dispersed bubbles in bulk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyu Zhou
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Vincent Maugard
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Wenming Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Joe Zhou
- Disruptive Separation Technology Ltd. (DSTL), Edmonton, AB T6X 1M5, Canada
| | - Xuehua Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
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