1 research outputs found
Precision Synthesis of Sub‑3 nm Bimetallic Alloy Nanoparticles for Efficient and Selective Catalytic Hydrogenolysis of 5‑Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-Dimethylfuran
Miniaturizing
bimetallic alloy nanoparticles to sizes below the
3 nm threshold holds great potential to achieve distinct catalytic
properties compared to single atoms and larger nanoparticles. However,
conventional synthesis methods, including impregnation and nanocluster
chemistry, often yield ultrasmall alloy nanoparticles with widely
varied sizes or compositions. Herein, we introduce a thermodynamically
driven mechanism for the precision synthesis of ultrasmall bimetallic
alloy nanoparticles. Metal precursors are uniformly distributed into
nanoscale compartments within a microemulsion at equilibrium. After
solidifying these nanocompartments, stoichiometric metal alloying
is achieved at elevated temperatures. Consequently, homogeneously
alloyed bimetallic nanoparticles are synthesized within the sub-3
nm region with high precision in both size and composition. The precision
synthesis enables the exploration of size- or composition-dependent
catalytic properties. Notably, 1.2 nm-Pt3Co alloy nanoparticles
exhibited optimal performance, outperforming other sizes (0.7–3.2
nm) and reported catalysts in the chemoselective hydrogenolysis of
5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-dimethylfuran, achieving a turnover
frequency of 9733 h–1 with ∼100% selectivity.
This synthesis unlocks a realm of sub-3 nm bimetallic alloy catalysts
with precisely designable properties, holding significant promise
for various catalytic processes