Doped metal clusters as bimetallic AuCo nanocatalysts: insights into structural dynamics and correlation with catalytic activity by spectroscopy

• Published in: Faraday discussions 2023-01, Vol.242, p.94-15
• Main Authors: Barrabés, Noelia, Ostolaza, Jon, Reindl, Sarah, Mähr, Martin, Schrenk, Florian, Drexler, Hedda, Rameshan, Christoph, Olszewski, Wojciech, Rupprechter, Günther
• Format: Article
• ISSN: 1359-6640; 1364-5498
• DOI: 10.1039/d2fd00120a

Co-doped Au 25 nanoclusters with different numbers of doping atoms were synthesized and supported on CeO 2 . The catalytic properties were studied in the CO oxidation reaction. In all cases, an enhancement in catalytic activity was observed compared to the pure Au 25 nanocluster catalyst. Interestingly, a different catalytic performance was obtained depending on the number of Co atoms within the cluster. This was related to the mobility of atoms within the cluster's structure under pretreatment and reaction conditions, resulting in active CoAu nanoalloy sites. The evolution of the doped Au clusters into nanoalloys with well-distributed Co atoms within the Au cluster structure was revealed by combined XAFS, DRIFTS, and XPS studies. Overall, these studies contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of doped nanoclusters on supports upon pretreatment and reaction, which is key information for the future development and application of bimetallic nanocluster (nanoalloy) catalysts. Cobalt doping of Au 25 nanoclusters led to an enhancement in the catalytic behaviour. The evolution of the doped Au clusters to nanoalloys with controlled surface sites was revealed by combined XAFS, DRIFTS and XPS studies.