Article Title

Transition metal-mediated catalytic properties of gold nanoclusters in aerobic alcohol oxidation

Authors

Chaolei Zhang, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China Gold Catalysis Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
Yongdong Chen, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Hong Wang, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Zhimin Li, Gold Catalysis Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
Kai Zheng, Gold Catalysis Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
Shujun Li, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
gao Li, Gold Catalysis Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China

Keywords

gold nanoclusters, heteroatom dopant, transition metal, oxidation, alcohol

Abstract

ABSTRACT Heteroatom dopants can greatly modify the electronic and physical properties and catalytic performance of gold nanoclusters. In this study, we investigate the catalytic activity of [Au25−x(PET)18−xM]NH3 (PET = 2-phenylethanethiolate, and M = Cu, Co, Ni, and Zn) nanoclusters in aerobic alcohol oxidation. The [Au25−x(PET)18−xM]NH3 nanoclusters are thoroughly characterized by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The XPS analyses suggest that the transition metals strongly interact with the gold atoms of the nanoclusters. The CeO2-supported nanoclusters show catalytic activity, based on the conversion of benzyl alcohol, in the order, [Au25−x(PET)18−xNi] > [Au25−x(PET)18−xCu] > [Au25−x(PET)18−xZn] > [Au25−x(PET)18−xCo]. Regarding product selectivity, the [Au25−x(PET)18−xZn] and [Au25−x(PET)18−xCo] catalysts preferably yield benzaldehyde, [Au25−x(PET)18−xCu] yields benzaldehyde and benzyl acid, and [Au25−x(PET)18−xNi] yields benzyl acid. The exposed metal atoms are considered as the catalytic active sites. Also, the catalytic performance (including activity and selectivity) of the [Au25−x(PET)18−xM] catalysts is greatly turned and mediated by the transition metal type.

Graphical Abstract

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-017-1831-9

Publisher

Tsinghua University Press

Recommended Citation

Chaolei Zhang,Yongdong Chen,Hong Wang,Zhimin Li,Kai Zheng,Shujun Li,Gao Li, Transition metal-mediated catalytic properties of gold nanoclusters in aerobic alcohol oxidation. NanoRes.2018, 11(4): 2139–2148