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Title: Facet-dependent Catalysis of CuNi Nanocatalysts toward 4–Nitrophenol Reduction Reaction
ABSTRACT We report a facile method to fabricate CuNi nano-octahedra and nanocubes using a colloidal synthesis approach. The CuNi nanocrystals terminated with exclusive crystallographic facets were controlled and achieved by a group of synergetic capping ligands in a hot solution system. Specifically, the growth of {111}-bounded CuNi nano-octahedra is derived by a thermodynamic control, whereas the generation of {100}-terminated CuNi nanocubes is steered by a kinetic capping of chloride. Using a reduction of 4-nitrophenol with sodium borohydride as a model reaction, CuNi nano-octahedra and nanocubes demonstrated a strong facet-dependence due to their different surface energies although both exhibited remarkable catalytic activity with the high rate constant over mass (k/m). A kinetic study indicated that this is a pseudo first-order reaction with an excess of sodium borohydride. CuNi nanocubes as the catalysts showed better catalytic performance (k/m = 385 s -1 •g -1 ) than the CuNi nano-octahedra (k/m = 120 s -1 •g -1 ), indicating that 4-nitrophenol and hydrogen were adsorbed on the {100} facets with their molecules parallel to the surface much easier than those on {111} facets.
Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Award ID(s):
1808383
Publication Date:
NSF-PAR ID:
10166219
Journal Name:
MRS Advances
Volume:
5
Issue:
27-28
Page Range or eLocation-ID:
1491 to 1496
ISSN:
2059-8521
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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