3D atomic-scale imaging of mixed Co-Fe spinel oxide nanoparticles during oxygen evolution reaction.

The three-dimensional (3D) distribution of individual atoms on the surface of catalyst nanoparticles plays a vital role in their activity and stability. Optimising the performance of electrocatalysts requires atomic-scale information, but it is difficult to obtain. Here, we use atom probe tomography to elucidate the 3D structure of 10 nm sized CoFeO and CoFeO nanoparticles during oxygen evolution reaction (OER).

Quantitative Conversion of Methanol to Methyl Formate on Graphene-Confined Nano-Oxides.

We demonstrate the nearly quantitative conversion of methanol to methyl formate (MF) with a reliable durability on the reduced-graphene-oxide-confined VTiOx nanoparticles (rGO@VTiO). The rGO@VTiO exhibits superior low-temperature reactivity than the rGO-free VTiO, and the MF yield of 98.8% is even comparable with the noble metal catalysts.

Correction: Au@PdO with a PdO-rich shell and Au-rich core embedded in CoO nanorods for catalytic combustion of methane.

Correction for 'Au@PdO with a PdO-rich shell and Au-rich core embedded in CoO nanorods for catalytic combustion of methane' by Yan Zhu et al., Nanoscale, 2017, 9, 2123-2128.

Au@PdO with a PdO-rich shell and Au-rich core embedded in CoO nanorods for catalytic combustion of methane.

Au@PdO with a PdO-rich shell and Au-rich core nested in CoO nanorods exhibited enhanced catalytic performance in the reaction of methane catalytic combustion, compared to monometallic Pd or Au/CoO nanorods as well as conventional PdAu/CoO nanorods. The superior catalysis of Au@PdO/CoO nanorods is mainly due to the architectural style of the PdO-rich shell and Au-rich core, which shows strong interaction of Pd, Au, and CoO.

Tuning the synthesis of platinum-copper nanoparticles with a hollow core and porous shell for the selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol.

Pt-Cu nanoparticles constructed with a hollow core and porous shell have been synthesized in which Pt-Cu cages with multiporous outermost shells are formed at the initial stage and then the Pt and Cu atoms in solution continuously fed these hollow-core of cages by passing through the porous tunnels of the outermost shells, finally leading to the formation of hollow structures with different sizes. Furthermore, these hollow-core Pt-Cu nanoparticles are more effective than the solid-core Pt-Cu nanoparticles for the catalytic hydrogenation of furfural toward furfuryl alcohol. The former can achieve almost 100% conversion of furfural with 100% selectivity toward the alcohol.

Bimetallic PtxCoy nanoparticles with curved faces for highly efficient hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde.

The control of the curved structure of bimetallic nanocrystals is a challenge, due to the rate differential for atom deposition and surface diffusion of alien atomic species on specific crystallographic planes of seeds. Herein, we report how to tune the degree of concavity of bimetallic PtxCoy concave nanoparticles using carboxylic acids as surfactants with an oleylamine system, leading to the specific crystallographic planes being exposed. The terminal carboxylic acids with a bridge ring or a benzene ring serving as structure regulators could direct the formation of curved faces with exposed high-index facets, and long-chain saturated fatty acids favored the production of curved faces with exposed low-index facets, while long-chain olefin acids alone benefited the formation of a flat surface with exposed low-index planes.

Designing axial growth of Co-Ni bimetallic nanowires with hexagon-like caps and their catalytic hydrogenation for nitrobenzene.

Co-Ni bimetal nanocrystals, which are constructed with long wires and hexagon-like caps, were synthesized through supersaturation, precipitation, and axial growth from the prenucleated bimetal seeds. These Co-Ni bimetallic nanowires with hexagonal caps are more effective than corresponding nanoparticles for the catalytic hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to produce aniline.

The shape evolution from PtxCoy@Co cubes to PtxCoy multicubes for selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehyde.

We report the synthesis of PtxCoy@Co cubes and PtxCoy multicubes through use of the previous structure as a seed precursor to induce the formation of the latter. Herein, PtxCoy nanocrystals underwent a shape evolution from a core-shell structure to multicubes under an identical synthetic condition via using the previous structure serving as a seed precursor to induce the formation of the latter. PtxCoy@Co cubes can be viewed as a PtxCoy octapod core coated by a Co atom shell that exhibits complete selectivity towards the C=C bond of unsaturated aldehydes.