In Situ/Operando Probing of Dynamic Phase Structures of Alumina‐Supported Ultrasmall Copper‐Gold Alloy Nanoparticles Under Reaction Conditions
Abstract
Abstract The ability to control phase structures and surface sites of ultrasmall alloy nanoparticles under reaction conditions is essential for preparing catalysts by design. This is, however, challenging due to limited understanding of the atomic‐scale phases and their correlation with the ensemble‐averaged structures and activities of catalysts during catalytic reactions. We reveal here a dynamic structural stability of alumina‐supported ultrasmall and equiatomic copper‐gold alloy nanoparticles under reaction conditions as a model system in the in situ/operando study. In situ atomic‐scale morphological tracking under oxygen reveals temperature‐dependent dynamic crystalline‐amorphous dual‐phase structures, showing dynamic stability over an elevated temperature range. This atomic‐scale dynamic phase stability coincides with a “conversion plateau” observed for carbon monoxide oxidation on the catalyst. It is substantiated by the stable lattice ordering/disordering structures and surface sites with oscillatory characteristics shown by operando ensemble‐average structural tracking of the catalyst during the oxidation reaction. The understanding of the atomic‐scale dynamic phase structures in correlation with the ensemble‐average dynamic ordering/disordering phase structures and surface sites provides fresh insights into the unique synergy of the supported alloy nanoparticles. This understanding has implications for the design and structural tuning of active and stable ultrasmall alloy catalysts under elevated temperatures.
Article Details
Authors (17)
Han‐Wen Cheng
Laboratory of Advanced Materials Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials Department of Materials Science Academy for Engineering & Technology Fudan University Shanghai 200438 China
Jing Li
Shiyao Shan
Department of Chemistry
Xiaowei Lv
Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Department of Materials Science, Academy for Engineering & Technology
Guanyu Chen
Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Department of Materials Science, Academy for Engineering & Technology
Merry Madiou
Department of Chemistry State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton NY 13902 USA
Dong Dinh
Department of Chemistry
Seyed Danial Mousavi
Department of Chemistry State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton NY 13902 USA
Zhi‐Peng Wu
Department of Chemistry State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton NY 13902 USA
Shan Wang
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Frontiers Science Center for High Energy Material, School of Interdisciplinary Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Yazan Maswadeh
Department of Physics Central Michigan University Mt. Pleasant MI 48859 USA
Valeri Petkov
Department of Physics Central Michigan University Mt. Pleasant MI 48859 USA
Susan Lu
Department of Chemistry
Ke Pei
Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Department of Materials Science, Academy for Engineering & Technology
Wenbin You
Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Department of Materials Science, Academy for Engineering & Technology
Renchao Che
Chuan‐Jian Zhong
Department of Chemistry State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton NY 13902 USA