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Androutsopoulos A, Sader S, Miliordos E. Potential of Molecular Catalysts with Electron-Rich Transition Metal Centers for Addressing Long-Standing Chemistry Enigmas. J Phys Chem A 2024; 128:4401-4411. [PMID: 38797970 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.4c01800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Molecular complexes with electron-rich metal centers are highlighted as potential catalysts for the following five important chemical transformations: selective conversion of methane to methanol, capture and utilization of carbon dioxide, fixation of molecular nitrogen, water splitting, and recycling of perfluorochemicals. Our initial focus lies on negatively charged metal centers and ligands that can stabilize anionic metal atoms. Catalysts with electron-rich metal atoms (CERMAs) can sustain catalytic cycles with a "ping-pong" mechanism, where one or more electrons are transferred from the metal center to the substrate and back. The donated electrons can activate the chemical bonds of the substrate by populating its antibonding orbitals. At the last step of the catalytic cycle, the electrons return to the metal and the product interacts only weakly with the formed anion, which enables the solvent molecules to remove the product fast from the catalytic cycle and prevent subsequent unfavorable reactions. This process resembles electrocatalysis, but the metal serves as both an anode and a cathode (molecular electrocatalysis). We also analyze the usage of CERMAs as the base of Frustrated Lewis pairs proposing a new type of bimetallic catalysts. This Featured Article aspires to initiate systematic experimental and theoretical studies on CERMAs and their reactivity, the potential of which has probably been underestimated in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Safaa Sader
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
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Luo Z, Shehzad A. Advances in Naked Metal Clusters for Catalysis. Chemphyschem 2024; 25:e202300715. [PMID: 38450926 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202300715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
The properties of sub-nano metal clusters are governed by quantum confinement and their large surface-to-bulk ratios, atomically precise compositions and geometric/electronic structures. Advances in metal clusters lead to new opportunities in diverse aspects of sciences including chemo-sensing, bio-imaging, photochemistry, and catalysis. Naked metal clusters having synergic multiple active sites and coordinative unsaturation and tunable stability/activity enable researchers to design atomically precise metal catalysts with tailored catalysis for different reactions. Here we summarize the progress of ligand-free naked metal clusters for catalytic applications. It is anticipated that this review helps to better understand the chemistry of small metal clusters and facilitates the design and development of new catalysts for potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixun Luo
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Aamir Shehzad
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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S Al-Otaibi J, Mary YS, Mary YS, Cristina Gamberini M. SERS analysis, DFT, and solution effects regarding the structural and optical characteristics of folic acid biomolecule adsorbed on a Cu 3 metal cluster. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2024; 313:124161. [PMID: 38493513 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2024.124161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The optical characteristics of folic acid (ABP) and metal clusters of copper (Cu3) at various locations were investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT) computations. Mulliken charge analysis and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface show how charge moves from Cu3 to ABP through the various groups. The peak in the UV-Vis spectra of ABP-Cu3 is caused by bonding and anti-bonding orbitals. In both vacuum and aqueous conditions, the polarizability values of ABP-Cu3 cluster are significantly higher than those of pure ABP, indicating a possible enhancement of the nonlinear optical (NLO) effect. Our research investigates the possibility of using ABP adsorbed metal clusters for NLO materials. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) in the ABP adsorbed metal clusters enhances the vibrational modes of ABP. Adsorption energies are found to be in the range -17.08 to -58.52 kcal/mol in vacuum and -53.34 to -93.44 kcal/mol in aqueous medium for the different configurations for ABP-Cu3. It indicates that metal clusters adsorbed by ABP are stable in the aqueous media. Experimental IR and UV-Vis of ABP is in agreement with theoretically predicted ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamelah S Al-Otaibi
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Y Sheena Mary
- Department of Physics, FMN College (Autonomous), Kollam, Kerala, University of Kerala, India
| | | | - Maria Cristina Gamberini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via G. Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
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Fielicke A. Probing the binding and activation of small molecules by gas-phase transition metal clusters via IR spectroscopy. Chem Soc Rev 2023. [PMID: 37162518 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00104g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Isolated transition metal clusters have been established as useful models for extended metal surfaces or deposited metal particles, to improve the understanding of their surface chemistry and of catalytic reactions. For this objective, an important milestone has been the development of experimental methods for the size-specific structural characterization of clusters and cluster complexes in the gas phase. This review focusses on the characterization of molecular ligands, their binding and activation by small transition metal clusters, using cluster-size specific infrared action spectroscopy. A comprehensive overview and a critical discussion of the experimental data available to date is provided, reaching from the initial results obtained using line-tuneable CO2 lasers to present-day studies applying infrared free electron lasers as well as other intense and broadly tuneable IR laser sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Fielicke
- Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
- Institut für Optik und Atomare Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
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Meng Y, Liu Q. New Insights into Adsorption Properties of the Tubular Au 26 from AIMD Simulations and Electronic Interactions. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28072916. [PMID: 37049681 PMCID: PMC10096096 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28072916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, we revealed the electronic nature of the tubular Au26 based on spherical aromaticity. The peculiar structure of the Au26 could be an ideal catalyst model for studying the adsorptions of the Au nanotubes. However, through Google Scholar, we found that no one has reported connections between the structure and reactivity properties of Au26. Here, three kinds of molecules are selected to study the fundamental adsorption behaviors that occur on the surface of Au26. When one CO molecule is adsorbed on the Au26, the σ-hole adsorption structure is quickly identified as belonging to a ground state energy, and it still maintains integrity at a temperature of 500 K, where σ donations and π-back donations take place; however, two CO molecules make the structure of Au26 appear with distortions or collapse. When one H2 is adsorbed on the Au26, the H-H bond length is slightly elongated due to charge transfers to the anti-bonding σ* orbital of H2. The Au26-H2 can maintain integrity within 100 fs at 300 K and the H2 molecule starts moving away from the Au26 after 200 fs. Moreover, the Au26 can act as a Lewis base to stabilize the electron-deficient BH3 molecule, and frontier molecular orbitals overlap between the Au26 and BH3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Meng
- School of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan 232000, China
| | - Qiman Liu
- School of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan 232000, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Low Temperature Co-Fired Materials, Huainan 232000, China
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Chen H, Wang R, Xu J, Yuan X, Zhang D, Zhu Z, Marshall M, Bowen K, Zhang X. Spontaneous Reduction by One Electron on Water Microdroplets Facilitates Direct Carboxylation with CO 2. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:2647-2652. [PMID: 36668682 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c12731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in microdroplet chemistry have shown that chemical reactions in water microdroplets can be accelerated by several orders of magnitude compared to the same reactions in bulk water. Among the large plethora of unique properties of microdroplets, an especially intriguing one is the strong reducing power that can be sometimes as high as alkali metals as a result of the spontaneously generated electrons. In this study, we design a catalyst-free strategy that takes advantage of the reducing ability of water microdroplets to reduce a certain molecule, and the reduced form of that molecule can convert CO2 into value-added products. By spraying the water solution of C6F5I into microdroplets, an exotic and fragile radical anion, C6F5I•-, is observed, where the excess electron counter-intuitively locates on the σ* antibonding orbital of the C-I bond as evidenced by anion photoelectron spectroscopy. This electron weakens the C-I bond and causes the formation of C6F5-, and the latter attacks the carbon atom on CO2, forming the pentafluorobenzoate product, C6F5CO2-. This study provides a good example of strategically making use of the spontaneous properties of water microdroplets, and we anticipate that microdroplet chemistry will be a green avenue rich in new opportunities in CO2 utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Chen
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.,Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Ruijing Wang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.,Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Jinheng Xu
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.,Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China.,Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Xu Yuan
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.,Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.,Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Zhaoguo Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Mary Marshall
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Kit Bowen
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Xinxing Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.,Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
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Liu Z, He J, Li Y, Lin Q, Jiao J, Liu L, Yan Y, Wu H, Zhang F, Jia J, Xie H. Synergetic electron donation and back-donation interactions in (Au−CO2)− complex: A joint anionic photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy and theoretical investigation. Chem Phys Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2022.139845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Etim UJ, Zhang C, Zhong Z. Impacts of the Catalyst Structures on CO 2 Activation on Catalyst Surfaces. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:3265. [PMID: 34947613 PMCID: PMC8707475 DOI: 10.3390/nano11123265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Utilizing CO2 as a sustainable carbon source to form valuable products requires activating it by active sites on catalyst surfaces. These active sites are usually in or below the nanometer scale. Some metals and metal oxides can catalyze the CO2 transformation reactions. On metal oxide-based catalysts, CO2 transformations are promoted significantly in the presence of surface oxygen vacancies or surface defect sites. Electrons transferable to the neutral CO2 molecule can be enriched on oxygen vacancies, which can also act as CO2 adsorption sites. CO2 activation is also possible without necessarily transferring electrons by tailoring catalytic sites that promote interactions at an appropriate energy level alignment of the catalyst and CO2 molecule. This review discusses CO2 activation on various catalysts, particularly the impacts of various structural factors, such as oxygen vacancies, on CO2 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ubong J. Etim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT), Shantou 515063, China; (U.J.E.); (C.Z.)
| | - Chenchen Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT), Shantou 515063, China; (U.J.E.); (C.Z.)
- Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (IIT), Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Ziyi Zhong
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT), Shantou 515063, China; (U.J.E.); (C.Z.)
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