Strong Dual-Metal-Support Interactions Induced by Low-Temperature Plasma Phenomenon

  • 02 Jul 2022
  • Recently published Research - Pharmacy

Researchers

Wail Al Zoubi, Nisa Nashrah, Rosy Amalia Kurnia Putri, Abdul Wahab Allaf, Bassem Assfour, and Young Gun Ko

Published in

Materials Today Nano, volume 18, Article 100213, June 2022.

 


Abstract

Supported bimetallic nanoparticles have important industrial applications. However, the direct synthesis of intermetallic alloy nanocatalysts against sintering and aggregation on porous support materials via strong metal-support interactions (SMSIs) remains challenging. Herein, we report a novel synthesis strategy used to achieve low-temperature-plasma-induced SMSIs on a MgO-supported MAg (M = Cu, Fe, or Ni) system by focusing an electric field at a localized interface. The electric-field-controlled discharge plasma intrinsically promoted the formation of a porous MgO structure. This unique structure comprised partially encapsulated Mag nanoparticles (NPs) with a porous MgO layer and co-localized M and Ag NPs in close proximity. Owing to the uniform size distribution of the intermetallic NPs and the unique surface properties of the porous support, the resulting MAg@MgO catalysts exhibited high activity and excellent reusability toward the reduction of nitro and carbonyl groups. In particular, the conversion efficiency of CuAg@MgO (100% after 20 s) was significantly higher than that of the most commonly used catalysts; moreover, its activity did not decrease after 20 cycles of cinnamaldehyde hydrogenation. We believe that this synthesis route provides a universal method for designing and preparing high-activity supported metal catalysts.

Keywords: nanoparticle, catalyst, hydrogenation, nitro-compound, carbonyl-compound.

Link to abstract

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtnano.2022.100213