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Blurring the boundary between homogenous and heterogeneous catalysis using palladium nanoclusters with dynamic surfaces.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Cano, Israel 
Weilhard, Andreas 
Pinto, Jose 
Lodge, Rhys W 

Abstract

Using a magnetron sputtering approach that allows size-controlled formation of nanoclusters, we have created palladium nanoclusters that combine the features of both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts. Here we report the atomic structures and electronic environments of a series of metal nanoclusters in ionic liquids at different stages of formation, leading to the discovery of Pd nanoclusters with a core of ca. 2 nm surrounded by a diffuse dynamic shell of atoms in [C4C1Im][NTf2]. Comparison of the catalytic activity of Pd nanoclusters in alkene cyclopropanation reveals that the atomically dynamic surface is critically important, increasing the activity by a factor of ca. 2 when compared to compact nanoclusters of similar size. Catalyst poisoning tests using mercury and dibenzo[a,e]cyclooctene show that dynamic Pd nanoclusters maintain their catalytic activity, which demonstrate their combined features of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts within the same material. Additionally, kinetic studies of cyclopropanation of alkenes mediated by the dynamic Pd nanoclusters reveal an observed catalyst order of 1, underpinning the pseudo-homogeneous character of the dynamic Pd nanoclusters.

Description

Keywords

Journal Title

Nature communications

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2041-1723

Volume Title

12

Publisher

Sponsorship
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/L013940/1)
RCUK | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (EP/L015633/1, EP/K005138/1, EP/R026939/1, EP/R026815/1, EP/R026645/1, EP/R027129/1 and EP/M013219/1)