Deciphering Electrocatalytic Activity in Cu Nanoclusters: Interplay Between Structural Confinement and Ligands Environment

Small, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 6, 2025

Ligand-protected copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) with atomic precision have emerged rapidly due to their fascinating structural architectures and versatile catalytic properties, making them ideal for investigating structure-activity relationships. Despite potential, challenges such as stability issues limited diversity restricted deeper exploration. In this study, three distinct Cu NCs are synthesized using a one-pot reduction strategy by carefully modifying reaction conditions. Intriguingly, the same p-toluenethiol ligand produces two different geometries, while varying ligands m-aminobenzethiol-yielded clusters similar geometric architectures. These evaluated electrocatalytic CO2 reduction, uncovering diverse activities product selectivity. Experimental theoretical analyses reveal that interplay between core structure confinement surface environment governs behavior. Specifically, Cu11 NC exhibits selectivity toward HCOOH production (FEHCOOH∼45% at -1.2 V vs RHE), whereas substituting m-aminobenzethiol shifted competitive side (FEH2∼82% RHE). Conversely, altering geometry of Cu18 retaining decreases (FEHCOOH∼35% findings highlight tunability tailored applications through precise control chemistry.

Язык: Английский

---

Direct Observation of Three Chiral Conformers of an Atomically Precise Metal Nanoparticle

Nano Letters, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Апрель 28, 2025

Atomically precise metal nanoclusters (NCs) have attracted a lot of attention owing to their many interesting properties and applications. On the fundamental side, they can provide testbed for understanding structure-property relationships in nanomaterials. Hence, isomerism is intrinsic significance. In this work, we report atomically structure three Cu14 NC conformers, i.e., NCs with same chemical formula atomic connectivity but varying bond angles distances, obtained through X-ray crystallography. Interestingly, all conformers exhibit chirality cocrystallize lattice structure. Since interconversion each conformer its chiral counterpart possible without breaking remaking bonds, these constitute set atropisomers. The our highlights various sources one observe at nanoscale. These subtle yet identifiable differences represent something like minimal unit structural change, facilitating future investigation relationships.

Язык: Английский

---

Phosphine-induced conversion from Au₃₆ to Au₃₂ for constructing high-performance CO₂RR catalyst

Dalton Transactions, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

A monophosphine-mediated structural modification strategy is performed to convert Au 36 into 32 nanoclusters and boost the eCO 2 RR performance.

Язык: Английский

---

Significance of atomically precise copper nanoclusters and their alloys protected by organic monolayer in electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction

Coordination Chemistry Reviews, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 541, С. 216823 - 216823

Опубликована: Май 21, 2025

Язык: Английский

---