Controlled synthesis of Bi- and tri-nuclear Cu-oxo nanoclusters on metal-organic frameworks and the structure-reactivity correlations.

Precisely tuning the nuclearity of supported metal nanoclusters is pivotal for designing more superior catalytic systems, but it remains practically challenging. By utilising the chemical and molecular specificity of UiO-66-NH2 (a Zr-based metal-organic framework), we report the controlled synthesis of supported bi- and trinuclear Cu-oxo nanoclusters on the Zr6O4 nodal centres of UiO-66-NH2. We revealed the interplay between the surface structures of the active sites, adsorption configurations, catalytic reactivities and associated reaction energetics of structurally related Cu-based 'single atoms' and bi- and trinuclear species over our model photocatalytic formic acid reforming reaction. This work will offer practical insight that fills the critical knowledge gap in the design and engineering of new-generation atomic and nanocluster catalysts. The precise control of the structure and surface sensitivities is important as it can effectively lead to more reactive and selective catalytic systems. The supported bi- and trinuclear Cu-oxo nanoclusters exhibit notably different catalytic properties compared with the mononuclear 'Cu1' analogue, which provides critical insight for the engineering of more superior catalytic systems.

Tailored transition metal-doped nickel phosphide nanoparticles for the electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER).

Foreign transition metals are doped into the hexagonal nickel phosphide structure through a simple and facile bottom-up wet-chemical synthesis process via stabilization with oleylamine, trioctylphosphine (TOP), and trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO): the as-prepared transition metal-doped nickel phosphide nanoparticles show a high level of doping but create no significant distortion of the crystal structure and morphology against pristine nickel phosphide nanoparticles, which exhibit excellent activity in the electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER), having overpotential as small as 330 mV at 20 mA cm-2 with a low Tafel slope value of 39 mV dec-1.

Cu2ZnSnS4/MoS2-Reduced Graphene Oxide Heterostructure: Nanoscale Interfacial Contact and Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation.

Hydrogen generation from water using noble metal-free photocatalysts presents a promising platform for renewable and sustainable energy. Copper-based chalcogenides of earth-abundant elements, especially Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS), have recently arisen as a low-cost and environment-friendly material for photovoltaics and photocatalysis. Herein, we report a new heterostructure consisting of CZTS nanoparticles anchored onto a MoS2-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hybrid. Using a facile two-step method, CZTS nanoparticles were in situ grown on the surface of MoS2-rGO hybrid, which generated high density of nanoscale interfacial contact between CZTS and MoS2-rGO hybrid. The photoexcited electrons of CZTS can be readily transported to MoS2 through rGO backbone, reducing the electron-hole pair recombination. In photocatalytic hydrogen generation under visible light irradiation, the presence of MoS2-rGO hybrids enhanced the hydrogen production rate of CZTS by 320%, which can be attributed to the synergetic effect of increased charge separation by rGO and more catalytically active sites from MoS2. Furthermore, this CZTS/MoS2-rGO heterostructure showed much higher photocatalytic activity than both Au and Pt nanoparticle-decorated CZTS (Au/CZTS and Pt/CZTS) photocatalysts, indicating the MoS2-rGO hybrid is a better co-catalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen generation than the precious metal. The CZTS/MoS2-rGO system also demonstrated stable photocatalytic activity for a continuous 20 h reaction.

A General Palladium-Catalyzed Hiyama Cross-Coupling Reaction of Aryl and Heteroaryl Chlorides.

A general palladium-catalyzed Hiyama cross-coupling reaction of aryl and heteroaryl chlorides with aryl and heteroaryl trialkoxysilanes by a Pd(OAc)2 /L2 catalytic system is presented. A newly developed water addition protocol can dramatically improve the product yields. The conjugation of the Pd/L2 system and the water addition protocol can efficiently catalyze a broad range of electron-rich, -neutral, -deficient, and sterically hindered aryl chlorides and heteroaryl chlorides with excellent yields within three hours and the catalyst loading can be down to 0.05 mol % Pd for the first time. Hiyama coupling of heteroaryl chlorides with heteroaryl silanes is also reported for the first time. The reaction can be easily scaled up 200 times (100 mmol) without any degasification and purification of reactants; this facilitates the practical application in routine synthesis.

Morphology-Controlled Synthesis of Au/Cu2FeSnS4 Core-Shell Nanostructures for Plasmon-Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation.

Copper-based chalcogenides of earth-abundant elements have recently arisen as an alternate material for solar energy conversion. Cu2FeSnS4 (CITS), a quaternary chalcogenide that has received relatively little attention, has the potential to be developed into a low-cost and environmentlly friendly material for photovoltaics and photocatalysis. Herein, we report, for the first time, the synthesis, characterization, and growth mechanism of novel Au/CITS core-shell nanostructures with controllable morphology. Precise manipulations in the core-shell dimensions are demonstrated to yield two distinct heterostructures with spherical and multipod gold nanoparticle (NP) cores (Au(sp)/CITS and Au(mp)/CITS). In photocatalytic hydrogen generation with as-synthesized Au/CITS NPs, the presence of Au cores inside the CITS shell resulted in higher hydrogen generation rates, which can be attributed to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect. The Au(sp)/CITS and Au(mp)/CITS core-shell NPs enhanced the photocatalytic hydrogen generation by about 125% and 240%, respectively, compared to bare CITS NPs.