Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Valence Bond Theory02:42

Valence Bond Theory

11.2K
Coordination compounds and complexes exhibit different colors, geometries, and magnetic behavior, depending on the metal atom/ion and ligands from which they are composed. In an attempt to explain the bonding and structure of coordination complexes, Linus Pauling proposed the valence bond theory, or VBT, using the concepts of hybridization and the overlapping of the atomic orbitals. According to VBT, the central metal atom or ion (Lewis acid) hybridizes to provide empty orbitals of suitable...
11.2K
Metal-Ligand Bonds02:51

Metal-Ligand Bonds

23.9K
The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
23.9K
Ladder Diagrams: Complexation Equilibria01:07

Ladder Diagrams: Complexation Equilibria

590
Ladder diagrams are useful for evaluating equilibria involving metal-ligand complexes. The vertical scale of the ladder diagram represents the concentration of unreacted or free ligand, pL. The horizontal lines on the scale depict the log of stepwise formation constants for metal-ligand complexes and indicate the dominant species in all the regions.
The formation constant, K1, for the formation of Cd(NH3)2+ complex from cadmium and ammonia is 3.55 × 102. Log K1 (i.e. pNH3) is 2.55, and...
590
Coordination Compounds and Nomenclature02:54

Coordination Compounds and Nomenclature

26.2K
In most main group element compounds, the valence electrons of the isolated atoms combine to form chemical bonds that satisfy the octet rule. For instance, the four valence electrons of carbon overlap with electrons from four hydrogen atoms to form CH4. The one valence electron leaves sodium and adds to the seven valence electrons of chlorine to form the ionic formula unit NaCl (Figure 1a). Transition metals do not normally bond in this fashion. They primarily form coordinate covalent bonds, a...
26.2K
Coordination Number and Geometry02:57

Coordination Number and Geometry

18.9K
For transition metal complexes, the coordination number determines the geometry around the central metal ion. Table 1 compares coordination numbers to molecular geometry. The most common structures of the complexes in coordination compounds are octahedral, tetrahedral, and square planar.
18.9K
Colors and Magnetism03:02

Colors and Magnetism

13.9K
Color in Coordination Complexes
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human...
13.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Realization of the Bienenstock-Cooper-Munro rule in a single memristor.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Thin-Layer NbOCl<sub>2</sub> Flat-Band Semiconductor for Efficient PEC Photodetection.

The journal of physical chemistry letters·2026
Same author

Annealing of skyrmion lattice in van der Waals magnet via field modulation.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Atomic-scale structural inversion of interfacial water from atomic force microscopy.

The Journal of chemical physics·2026
Same author

Noncovalent copper oxide framework on Cu(111) with open honeycomb structure.

The Journal of chemical physics·2026
Same author

Stacking-Dependent Interfacial Water Dynamics Govern the Aqueous Degradation of Layered LiCoO<sub>2</sub> Cathodes.

ChemSusChem·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 14, 2026

Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
08:40

Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production

Published on: December 6, 2021

4.1K

Visualizing alkali metal aggregation-induced coordination in CO2 activation on copper.

Wenyu Sun1, Pu Yang1,2, Yongkang Jiang3,4

  • 1College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, PR China.

Nature Communications
|October 28, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Alkali metals, like potassium and cesium, form trimers on copper surfaces to activate carbon dioxide (CO2) and form oxalate intermediates. This discovery aids in designing better catalysts for carbon capture and utilization.

More Related Videos

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
10:57

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Published on: April 10, 2018

19.0K
Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides
11:04

Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides

Published on: September 7, 2019

9.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 14, 2026

Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
08:40

Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production

Published on: December 6, 2021

4.1K
Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
10:57

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Published on: April 10, 2018

19.0K
Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides
11:04

Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides

Published on: September 7, 2019

9.7K

Area of Science:

  • Surface Science
  • Catalysis
  • Materials Chemistry

Background:

  • Alkali metals promote CO2 activation and conversion.
  • The atomic-scale mechanism of alkali metal promotion is poorly understood.
  • Direct visualization of intermediates is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To visualize the atomic structure of alkali metal-CO2 intermediates on copper surfaces.
  • To elucidate the role of alkali metals in CO2 activation and conversion.
  • To provide insights for catalyst design.

Main Methods:

  • Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM)
  • Non-contact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM)
  • Density functional theory (DFT) calculations

Main Results:

  • Alkali ions (K+, Cs+) aggregate into trimers to activate CO2.
  • Activated CO2 undergoes C-C coupling to form oxalate, coordinated by four alkali ions.
  • Alkali trimers stabilize intermediates and lower reaction barriers for CO2 conversion.
  • High CO2 pressure leads to 2D ordered alkali carbonate films.

Conclusions:

  • Direct visualization confirms the role of alkali trimers in CO2 activation.
  • The findings offer a mechanistic understanding of alkali metal promotion in CO2 conversion.
  • This work provides a foundation for developing efficient catalysts for carbon capture and utilization.