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Toward Active-Site Tailoring in Heterogeneous Catalysis by Atomically Precise Metal Nanoclusters with
Rongchao Jin1, Gao Li2, Sachil Sharma2
1Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States.
Chemical Reviews
|September 17, 2020
Summary
Atomically precise metal nanoclusters offer a new frontier in heterogeneous catalysis. These well-defined structures enable fundamental research at the atomic level, advancing catalyst design and understanding.
Area of Science:
- Catalysis
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Heterogeneous catalysis relies on solid-state catalysts, with metal nanoparticles being crucial.
- Conventional nanoparticles lack atomic-level precision, hindering fundamental understanding.
- Atomically precise metal nanoclusters (1-3 nm) offer crystallographic characterization, akin to enzymes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the progress in utilizing atomically precise metal nanoclusters for catalysis.
- To highlight their role as model catalysts for fundamental research.
- To discuss future directions in tailoring catalysts at the atomic level.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of atomically precise metal nanoclusters protected by ligands.
- Crystallographic characterization of nanocluster structures.
- Application of these nanoclusters as model catalysts in heterogeneous catalysis.
Main Results:
- Atomically precise nanoclusters bridge homogeneous and enzyme catalysis features.
- They enable catalysis research at single-atom and single-electron levels.
- Facilitate studies on size-dependent activity, selectivity, and reaction mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Atomically precise metal nanoclusters represent a new class of model catalysts.
- They hold great promise for advancing fundamental catalysis research.
- Future work will focus on atomic-level tailoring for high-performance catalysts.
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