Doped metal clusters as bimetallic AuCo nanocatalysts: insights into structural dynamics and correlation with catalytic activity by in situ spectroscopy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

Authors

  • Noelia Barrabés
  • Jon Ostolaza
  • Sarah Reindl
  • Martin Mähr
  • Wojciech Olszewski
  • Günther Rupprechter

Organisational units

External Organisational units

  • Institute of Materials Science and Technology
  • Faculty of Physics
  • University of Cambridge

Abstract

Co-doped Au25 nanoclusters with different numbers of doping atoms were synthesized and supported on CeO2. The catalytic properties were studied in the CO oxidation reaction. In all cases, an enhancement in catalytic activity was observed compared to the pure Au25 nanocluster catalyst. Interestingly, a different catalytic performance was obtained depending on the number of Co atoms within the cluster. This was related to the mobility of atoms within the cluster’s structure under pretreatment and reaction conditions, resulting in active CoAu nanoalloy sites. The evolution of the doped Au clusters into nanoalloys with well-distributed Co atoms within the Au cluster structure was revealed by combined XAFS, DRIFTS, and XPS studies. Overall, these studies contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of doped nanoclusters on supports upon pretreatment and reaction, which is key information for the future development and application of bimetallic nanocluster (nanoalloy) catalysts.

Details

Original languageEnglish
JournalFaraday Discussions
Volume242.2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 Jul 2022