Facet-dependent Catalysis of CuNi Nanocatalysts toward 4–Nitrophenol Reduction Reaction. (2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Can; Luan, Yiliang; Zhao, Bo; Kumbhar, Amar; Chen, Xiaobo; Collins, David; Zhou, Guangwen; Fang, Jiye
• Is Part Of: MRS advances. Volume 5:Number 27/28(2020)
• Page Start: 1491
• Page End: 1496
• Publication Date: 2020
• Subjects: catalytic, -- nanostructure, -- surface reaction; Electrical engineering -- Congresses; Physics -- Congresses; Materials -- Research -- Congresses; Materials science -- Congresses; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1557/adv.2020.5
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2059-8521

Abstract

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.