Hexairidium Clusters Supported on γ-Al2O3: Synthesis, Structure, and Catalytic Activity for Toluene Hydrogenation

Iridium and IrOx nanoparticles: an overview and review of syntheses and applications

Precious metals are key in various fields of research and precious metal nanomaterials are directly relevant for optics, catalysis, pollution management, sensing, medicine, and many other applications. Iridium based nanomaterials are less studied than metals like gold, silver or platinum. A specific feature of iridium nanomaterials is the relatively small size nanoparticles and clusters easily obtained, e.g. by colloidal syntheses. Progress over the years overcomes the related challenging characterization and it is expected that the knowledge on iridium chemistry and nanomaterials will be growing. Although Ir nanoparticles have been preferred systems for the development of kinetic-based models of nanomaterial formation, there is surprisingly little knowledge on the actual formation mechanism(s) of iridium nanoparticles. Following the impulse from the high expectations on Ir nanoparticles as catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction in electrolyzers, new areas of applications of iridium materials have been reported while more established applications are being revisited. This review covers different synthetic strategies of iridium nanoparticles and provides an in breadth overview of applications reported. Comprehensive Tables and more detailed topic-oriented overviews are proposed in Supplementary Material, covering synthesis protocols, the historical role or iridium nanoparticles in the development of nanoscience and applications in catalysis.

Highly active and stable Ir nanoclusters derived from Ir1/MgAl2O4 single-atom catalysts

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) prepared by the atom trapping method often possess high stability yet have limited advantages regarding catalytic performance due to the strong metal-support interaction. Using these SACs as seeds to develop supported nanoclusters or nanoparticles has, however, been proven to be effective in improving the catalysts' intrinsic activity. Herein, we have prepared extremely stable Ir SACs supported by MgAl₂O₄ via atomic trapping and used them as seeds to fabricate highly active and stable Ir nanocluster catalysts by high-temperature reduction. The activity toward N₂O decomposition increased by more than ten times compared with that of the parent Ir SACs. This study provides a new avenue to design and develop highly active and stable catalysts for industrial use.

Regioselective Generation of Single-Site Iridium Atoms and Their Evolution into Stabilized Subnanometric Iridium Clusters in MWW Zeolite

Preparation of supported metal catalysts with uniform particle size and coordination environment is a challenging and important topic in materials chemistry and catalysis. In this work, we report the regioselective generation of single-site Ir atoms and their evolution into stabilized subnanometric Ir clusters in MWW zeolite, which are located at the 10MR window connecting the two neighboring 12MR supercages. The size of the subnanometric Ir clusters can be controlled by the post-synthesis treatments and maintain below 1 nm even after being reduced at 650 °C, which cannot be readily achieved with samples prepared by conventional impregnation methods. The high structure sensitivity, size-dependence, of catalytic performance in the alkane hydrogenolysis reaction of Ir clusters in the subnanometric regime is evidenced.

The properties of Irn (n = 2–10) clusters and their nucleation on γ-Al2O3 and MgO surfaces: from ab initio studies

The adsorption and nucleation of Ir clusters on γ-Al₂O₃(001) and MgO(100) based on first-principles calculations.

Synthesis of dendritic iridium nanostructures based on the oriented attachment mechanism and their enhanced CO and ammonia catalytic activities

Branched iridium nanodendrites (Ir NDs) have been synthesized by a simple method based on the oriented attachment mechanism. Transmission electron microscopy images reveal the temporal growth process from small particles to NDs. Precursor concentrations and reaction temperatures have a limited effect on the morphology of Ir NDs. Metal oxide and hydroxide-supported Ir NDs exhibit enhanced activity for catalytic CO oxidation. Particularly, the Fe(OH)x-supported Ir NDs catalyst with a 4 wt% Ir loading show superior CO oxidation catalytic activity with a full conversion of CO at 120 °C. Furthermore, compared with Ir NPs and commercial Ir black, Ir NDs exhibit higher activity and stability for ammonia oxidation. The specific activity and mass activity of Ir NDs for ammonia oxidation are 1.7 and 7 times higher than that of Ir NPs. The improved catalytic activities of Ir NDs are attributed not only to their large specific surface area, but also to their considerably high index facets and rich edge and corner atoms. Hence, the obtained Ir NDs provide a promising alternative for direct ammonia fuel cells and proton-exchange membrane fuel cells.

Propylene from renewable resources: catalytic conversion of glycerol into propylene

Propylene, one of the most demanded commodity chemicals, is obtained overwhelmingly from fossil resources. In view of the diminishing fossil resources and the ongoing climate change, the identification of new efficient and alternative routes for the large-scale production of propylene from biorenewable resources has become essential. Herein, a new selective route for the synthesis of propylene from bio-derived glycerol is demonstrated. The route consists of the formation of 1-propanol (a versatile bulk chemical) as intermediate through hydrogenolysis of glycerol at a high selectivity. A subsequent dehydration produces propylene.

Oxide- and Zeolite-Supported Molecular Metal Complexes and Clusters: Physical Characterization and Determination of Structure, Bonding, and Metal Oxidation State

This article is a review of the physical characterization of well-defined site-isolated molecular metal complexes and metal clusters supported on metal oxides and zeolites. These surface species are of interest primarily as catalysts; as a consequence of their relatively uniform structures, they can be characterized much more precisely than traditional supported catalysts. The properties discussed in this review include metal nuclearity, oxidation state, and ligand environment, as well as metal-support interactions. These properties are determined by complementary techniques, including transmission electron microscopy; X-ray absorption, infrared, Raman, and NMR spectroscopies; and density functional theory. The strengths and limitations of these techniques are assessed in the context of results characterizing samples that have been investigated thoroughly and with multiple techniques. The depth of understanding of well-defined metal complexes and metal clusters on supports is approaching that attainable for molecular analogues in solution. The results provide a foundation for understanding the more complex materials that are typical of industrial catalysts.

Catalysis by Oxide-Supported Clusters of Iridium and Rhodium: Hydrogenation of Ethene, Propene, and Toluene

The hydrogenation reactions of ethene, propene, and toluene were used as probes of the catalytic properties of small clusters of rhodium (Rh6) and of iridium (Ir4 and Ir6) (as well as of larger aggregates of these metals) on oxide supports (gamma-Al2O3, MgO, and La2O3). The catalysts were characterized in the working state by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, providing evidence of the cluster structures and cluster-support interactions; by infrared spectroscopy, providing evidence of hydrocarbon adsorbates and possible reaction intermediates on the clusters; and by kinetics of the hydrogenation reactions. The EXAFS data indicate that the metal clusters, while remaining intact and maintaining their bonding to the support during catalysis, underwent slight rearrangements to accommodate reactive intermediates. As the concentrations of reactive intermediates such as pi-bonded alkenes and alkyls on the clusters increased, the cluster frames swelled, and the clusters flexed away from the support. The data indicate self-inhibition of reaction by adsorbed hydrocarbons and differences between ethene hydrogenation and propene hydrogenation that may arise primarily from different adsorbate-adsorbate interactions.

Hydrazine Decomposition over Irn/Al2O3 Model Catalysts Prepared by Size-Selected Cluster Deposition

Hydrazine decomposition chemistry was probed over a temperature range from 100 to 800 K for a series of model catalysts prepared by mass-selected Ir(n)(+) deposition on planar Al(2)O(3)/NiAl(110). Two sets of experiments are reported. Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) was used to study hydrazine desorption and decomposition on Al(2)O(3)/NiAl(110) and on a model catalyst prepared by deposition of Ir(+) on Al(2)O(3)/NiAl(110) at a density large enough (5 x 10(14) cm(-2)) that formation of a distribution of small Ir(n) clusters on the surface is expected. This model catalyst was found to have hydrazine decomposition properties qualitatively similar to those observed on single-crystal Ir and polycrystalline Rh. This catalyst was also studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), to probe TPD-induced changes in the samples. A substantial decrease in the Ir XPS intensity suggests that considerable sintering takes place when the samples are heated to 800 K. In addition, a significant fraction of the nitrogen contained in the hydrazine is converted to an aluminum nitride (or mixed Al(x)O(y)N(z)) compound. Continuous flow experiments were used to probe relative reactivity at 300 and 400 K of samples prepared by depositing differently sized Ir(n)(+) clusters. At 300 K, samples prepared with preformed Ir(n)(+) (n = 5, 7, 10) are about twice as active, per Ir atom, as samples prepared with Ir(+) deposition, and there is a weaker trend to higher activity with increasing cluster size. At 400 K the trends are similar, but weaker, suggesting that thermal modification of the samples is already significant.

Role of cluster size in catalysis: spectroscopic investigation of gamma-Al2O3-supported Ir4 and Ir6 during ethene hydrogenation

gamma-Al(2)O(3)-supported Ir(4) and Ir(6) were prepared by decarbonylation of tetra- and hexanuclear iridium carbonyls, respectively, and compared as catalysts for ethene hydrogenation at atmospheric pressure and temperatures in the range 273-300 K. Rates of the reaction were determined along with extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and IR spectra characterizing the clusters in the working catalysts. EXAFS data show that the Ir(4) and Ir(6) cluster frames remained intact during catalysis. Di-sigma-bonded ethene and pi-bonded ethene on the clusters were identified by IR spectroscopy and found to compete as the principal reaction intermediates, with the former predominating at ethene partial pressures less than about 200 Torr and the latter at higher ethene partial pressures. Hydrogen on the clusters is inferred to form by dissociative adsorption of H(2); alternatively, it is provided by OH groups of the support. The rate of ethene hydrogenation on Ir(4) is typically several times greater than that on Ir(6).