Transition Metal-Doped C20 Fullerene-Based Single-Atom Catalysts with High Catalytic Activity for Hydrogen
Sehrish Sarfaraz1, Muhammad Yar1, Nadeem S Sheikh2
1Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, KPK, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan.
Abstract:
Hydrogen dissociation is a key step in almost all hydrogenation reactions; therefore, an efficient and cost-effective catalyst with a favorable band structure for this step is highly desirable. In the current work, transition metal-based C20 (M@C20) complexes are designed and evaluated as single-atom catalysts (SACs) for hydrogen dissociation reaction (HDR). Interaction energy (E int) analysis reveals that all the M@C20 complexes are thermodynamically stable, whereas the highest stability is observed for the Ni@C20 complex (E int = -6.14 eV). Moreover, the best catalytic performance for H2 dissociation reaction is computed for the Zn@C20 catalyst (E ads = 0.53 eV) followed by Ti@C20 (E ads = 0.65 eV) and Sc@C20 (E ads = 0.76 eV) among all considered catalysts. QTAIM analyses reveal covalent or shared shell interactions in H2* + M@C20 systems, which promote the process of H2 dissociation over M@C20 complexes. NBO and EDD analyses declare that transfer of charge from the metal atom to the antibonding orbital of H2 causes dissociation of the H-H bond. Overall outcomes of this study reveal that the Zn@C20 catalyst can act as a highly efficient, low-cost, abundant, and precious metal-free SAC to effectively catalyze HDR.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Catalysis
Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Radical Substitution: Hydrogenolysis of Alkyl Halides with Tributyltin Hydride
The bonds formed in this reaction are stronger than the bonds broken, making it energetically favorable. The reaction follows a radical chain mechanism similar to radical halogenation...


