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Related Concept Videos

Valence Bond Theory02:42

Valence Bond Theory

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...
Structural Isomerism02:34

Structural Isomerism

Isomerism in Complexes
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can be...
Metal-Ligand Bonds02:51

Metal-Ligand Bonds

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...
Ionic Bonding and Electron Transfer02:48

Ionic Bonding and Electron Transfer

Ions are atoms or molecules bearing an electrical charge. A cation (a positive ion) forms when a neutral atom loses one or more electrons from its valence shell, and an anion (a negative ion) forms when a neutral atom gains one or more electrons in its valence shell. Compounds composed of ions are called ionic compounds (or salts), and their constituent ions are held together by ionic bonds: electrostatic forces of attraction between oppositely charged cations and anions.
Coordination Number and Geometry02:57

Coordination Number and Geometry

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.
Colors and Magnetism03:02

Colors and Magnetism

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 eye.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

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

A restructuring-resistant BiCuOS superlattice stabilizing Bi-O coordination for highly selective CO2 electroreduction

Ganwen Chen1,2, Jie Chen3,4, Yukun Xiao2

  • 1Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou 350207, PR China.

Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|May 22, 2026
PubMed
Summary

This study introduces a new BiCuOS catalyst that resists restructuring during electrochemical CO2 reduction (eCO2R). This stable catalyst achieves high formate selectivity, paving the way for efficient CO2 conversion.

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Last Updated: May 23, 2026

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
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Published on: April 10, 2018

Fabrication of Spatially Confined Complex Oxides
08:45

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Published on: July 1, 2013

Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy
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Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy

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Area of Science:

  • Catalysis
  • Electrochemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Bismuth-based catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction (eCO2R) often suffer from structural instability, which hinders their intrinsic activity and mechanistic understanding.
  • Catalyst restructuring leads to unpredictable performance and complicates the identification of active sites and reaction pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a restructuring-resistant bismuth-based catalyst for efficient eCO2R.
  • To elucidate the key intermediates and rate-determining steps in the eCO2R process using a stable catalyst.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis and characterization of a novel BiCuOS catalyst.
  • Electrochemical testing of the catalyst for eCO2R, including Faradaic efficiency measurements.
  • In situ/operando spectroscopic techniques to identify reaction intermediates.

Main Results:

  • The BiCuOS catalyst demonstrated excellent stability against restructuring.
  • Achieved a high Faradaic efficiency for formate (FEformate) of 96.6% at -0.7 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (VRHE).
  • Identified the *OCHO species as a key intermediate and the formation of *HCOOH as the rate-determining step.

Conclusions:

  • The developed BiCuOS catalyst offers a stable platform for studying eCO2R mechanisms.
  • The stable Bi-O framework is crucial for maintaining catalytic activity and selectivity.
  • Understanding the reaction mechanism, including intermediates and rate-determining steps, is vital for designing improved eCO2R catalysts.