Single-Atom-Kernelled Nanocluster Catalyst

To propose the concept of single-atom-kernelled nanocluster,
we
synthesized a Pd-based trimetal nanocluster with a single-Ag atom-kernel
for the first time by introducing some steric hindrance factors and
employing a joint alloying strategy that combines the coreduction
with an antigalvanic reduction (AGR). Although the AGR-derived Pd-based
trimetal nanoclusters with single-silver atom kernels have low contents
of gold, they show higher activity and selectivity than those of the
bimetal precursor nanocluster in the electrocatalytical reduction
of CO2 to CO. Furthermore, it is revealed that the kernel
single atoms from both Au4Pd6(TBBT)12 and Au3AgPd6(TBBT)12 are not the
active sites for catalysis, but greatly influence the catalytical
performance by effecting the electronic configuration. Thus, it is
demonstrated that the single-atom-kernelled nanocluster can not only
improve the precious metal utilization (even to 100%) but also better
the properties and provide insight into the structure–property
correlation for metal nanoclusters.