Our contribution demonstrates that rhodium, an element that has barely been reported as an active metal for selective dehydrogenation of alkanes becomes a very active, selective, and robust dehydrogenation catalyst when exposed to propane in the form of single atoms at the interface of a solid-supported, highly dynamic liquid Ga–Rh mixture. We demonstrate that the transition to a fully liquid supported alloy droplet at Ga/Rh ratios above 80, results in a drastic increase in catalyst activity with high propylene selectivity. The combining results from catalytic studies, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, IR-spectroscopy under reaction conditions, microscopy, and density-functional theory calculations, we obtained a comprehensive microscopy picture of the working principle of the Ga–Rh supported catalytically active liquid metal solution.

Supported catalytically active liquid metal solutions (SCALMS) represent a class of catalytic materials that have only recently been developed, but have already proven to be highly active, e.g., for dehydrogenation reactions. Previous studies attributed the catalytic activity to isolated noble metal atoms at the surface of a liquid and inert Ga matrix. In this study, we apply diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) with CO as a probe molecule to Ga/Al2O3, Pt/Al2O3, and Ga37Pt/Al2O3 catalysts, to investigate in detail the nature of the active Pt species. Comparison of CO adsorption on Pt/Al2O3 and Ga37Pt/Al2O3 shows that isolated Pt atoms are, indeed, present at the surface of the liquid SCALMS. Combining DRIFTS with online gas chromatography (GC), we investigated the Ga/Al2O3, Pt/Al2O3, and Ga37Pt/Al2O3 systems under operando conditions during propane dehydrogenation in CO/propane and in Ar/propane. We find that the Pt/Al2O3 sample is rapidly poisoned by CO adsorption and coke, whereas propane dehydrogenation over Ga37Pt/Al2O3 SCALMS leads to higher conversion with no indication of poisoning effects. We show under operando conditions that isolated Pt atoms are present at the surface of SCALMS during the dehydrogenation reaction. IR spectra and density-functional theory (DFT) suggest that both the Ga matrix and the presence of coadsorbates alter the electronic properties of the surface Pt species.

Thin films of ionic liquids (ILs) can be used to tune the activity and selectivity of heterogeneous catalysts and electrocatalysts (solid catalysts with IL layer, SCILL). In several cases it has been found that these IL layers have a strong beneficial effect on the selectivity. To explore the molecular origin of this phenomenon, we have performed a model study on ultrahigh-vacuum conditions. We have investigated the coadsorption of CO and the room-temperature IL [C2C1Im]­[OTf] (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate) on Pd(111) by time-resolved infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy, temperature-programmed reflection absorption spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed desorption. We find that the [OTf]− anion adsorbs specifically to the Pd(111) surface via the SO3 – group, thereby adopting a well-defined orientation with the molecular axis oriented perpendicular to the surface. At higher IL coverage, unspecific but oriented adsorption occurs, before the orientation is successively lost in the multilayer region. Upon coadsorption of [C2C1Im]­[OTf] on a CO-saturated Pd(111) surface at 300 K (θ = 0.5) a well-defined coadsorption layer is formed without any loss of adsorbed CO and with very similar CO site occupation. In the coadsorption layer [OTf]− is specifically adsorbed between the CO with a molecular orientation perpendicular to the surface. Thus, a dense and homogeneous coadsorption layer is formed in which Pd surface atoms are simultaneously coordinated to both CO and [OTf]− ions. From this compressed layer, CO desorbs with peak temperature at 410 K (heating rate, 3.3 K/s). Above this temperature, a low-coverage coadsorption phase of CO and surface-adsorbed IL resides, with little influence of the IL on the CO desorption temperature (peak temperature, 470 K). Coadsorption of the IL gives rise to a pronounced red shift of the CO stretching frequency in the order of 50 cm–1. The effect originates from the electrostatic interfacial field (Stark effect) generated by the coadsorbed IL and, at high coverage, possibly from additional short-range interactions. The results show that ILs form dense and well-defined mixed phases with strongly adsorbing reactants such as CO, in which a specifically adsorbed carpet of IL anions directly modifies the active surface sites by ligand-like effects.

Liquid organic hydrogen carriers represent an interesting alternative for hydrogen storage and transport. We demonstrate a method to simultaneously increase the activity of LOHC dehydrogenation catalysts and reduce side product formation.

Indicators for H2 are crucial to ensure safety standards in a green hydrogen economy. Herein, the authors report micron‐scaled indicator supraparticles for real‐time monitoring and irreversible recording of H2 gas via a rapid eye‐readable two‐step color change. They are produced via spray‐drying SiO2 nanoparticles, AuPd nanoparticles, and indicator‐dye resazurin. The resulting gas‐accessible mesoporous supraparticle framework absorbs water from humid atmospheres to create a three‐phase‐system. In the presence of H2, the color of the supraparticle switches first irreversibly from purple to pink and further reversibly to a colorless state. In situ infrared spectroscopy measurements indicate that this color change originates from the (ir)reversible H2‐induced reduction of resazurin to resorufin and hydroresorufin. Further infrared spectroscopic measurements and molecular dynamics simulations elucidate that key to achieve this functionality is an established three‐phase‐system within the supraparticles, granting molecular mobility of resazurin. Water acts as transport medium to carry resazurin molecules towards the catalytically active AuPd nanoparticles. The advantages of the supraparticles are their small dimensions, affordable and scalable production, fast response times, straightforward bare‐eye detection, and the possibility of simultaneously monitoring H2 exposure in real‐time and ex post. Therefore, H2 indicator supraparticles are an attractive safety additive for leakage detection and localization in a H2 economy.