Ag Doped Au₄₄ Nanoclusters for Electrocatalytic Conversion of CO₂ to CO

A novel Ag doped Au₄₄ (C₁₀ H₉ )₂₈ nanocluster (C₁₀ H₁₀ =1-ethynyl-2,4-dimethylbenzene) was synthesized, that is, Ag_4+x Au_40-x (C₁₀ H₉ )₂₈ (x≤6), where four Ag positions located in the surface staple of the cluster have been determined, while six Au/Ag co-occupying positions have been found in the metal core of the cluster. The electronic configuration of Au₄₄ (C₁₀ H₉ )₂₈ cluster is significantly disturbed by doping Ag atoms, hence promoting the electron transport capability. For the two-electron conversion reaction of CO₂ to CO in electrochemical reduction of CO₂ , Ag doped Ag_4+x Au_40-x (C₁₀ H₉ )₂₈ catalyst exhibited higher effective activity and long-term stability than its counterpart Au₄₄ (C₁₀ H₉ )₂₈ catalyst.