Mesoporous Noble Metal–Metalloid/Nonmetal Alloy Nanomaterials: Designing Highly Efficient Catalysts

Abstract

Mesoporous metals have received increasing attention in catalysis and related applications because of their novel physicochemical properties and functional geometric features. Control of multicomponent compositions and crystalline structures of mesoporous metals is critical for their applications. Recently, mesoporous metals have gradually expanded from traditional metal–metal alloys to metal–metalloid/nonmetal alloys with random solids and/or ordered intermetallics. As new, highly efficient nanocatalysts, mesoporous metal–metalloid/nonmetal alloys not only increase the utilization efficiency of precious noble metals and accelerate electron/mass transfer but also introduce new functions and optimize the surface electronic structure of metal sites, all of which enhance their catalytic activity and stability and tune their catalytic selectivity. In this Perspective, we focus on the latest developments in this area, including the findings from our group regarding the rational design and targeted synthesis of mesoporous noble metal–metalloid/nonmetal alloy nanocatalysts. We summarize the current synthetic strategies for mesoporous noble metal–metalloid/nonmetal alloys and discuss key effects of crystalline mesoporosity and metalloid/nonmetal alloys in enhancing catalytic performances of noble metal catalysts. We also describe the current bottlenecks and major challenges to explore further directions in synthesis and applications of mesoporous noble metal–metalloid/nonmetal alloys.

Boron-Doped Platinum-Group Metals in Electrocatalysis: A Perspective

“…37 In addition, by adding an amphiphilic surfactant template, this aqueous synthesis involving DMAB can be further extended to construct different nanostructured Pd−B alloys such as nanospheres, nanowires, nanopillars, and so on. 52,56,59,60 To increase the B-doping content in Pd−B alloys, Chen at al. 40 used N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as the solvent to synthesize Pd−B nanocrystals using NaBH 4 as the reductant and B source.…”

“…Lowering the reaction temperature, increasing the mole ratio of DMAB or NaBH 4 to a Pd­(II) precursor, and extending the reaction time favor an increased B-doping level. ,,, In fact, under otherwise similar conditions, DMAB and NaBH 4 yield B-doping levels of ∼6.7 and 2.7 atom % in Pd nanoparticles, respectively, in aqueous-phase synthesis . In addition, by adding an amphiphilic surfactant template, this aqueous synthesis involving DMAB can be further extended to construct different nanostructured Pd–B alloys such as nanospheres, nanowires, nanopillars, and so on. ,,, …”

Phosphorus‐doped Pt nanowires as efficient catalysts for electrochemical hydrogen evolution and methanol oxidation reaction

“…Besides morphological advantages, the incorporation of other elements into metal nanostructures has been extensively investigated to enhance their catalytic activity and durability for different reactions 25–28 . Recently, metal–nonmetal nanostructures, by incorporating nonmetallic elements like P, B, H, and S in metal nanostructures, have emerged as a promising candidate for the enhancement of electrocatalytic performance 29–33 . Metal phosphides (M–P) like Pd–P, 34 Co–P, 35 Rh–P, 36 and Ni–P 37 have attracted tremendous interest because of their outstanding performance in different electrocatalytic reactions.…”

“…[25][26][27][28] Recently, metal-nonmetal nanostructures, by incorporating nonmetallic elements like P, B, H, and S in metal nanostructures, have emerged as a promising candidate for the enhancement of electrocatalytic performance. [29][30][31][32][33] Metal phosphides (M-P) like Pd-P, 34 Co-P, 35 Rh-P, 36 and Ni-P 37 have attracted tremendous interest because of their outstanding performance in different electrocatalytic reactions. For instance, Luo et al reported that Pd-P NCs revealed interesting electrocatalytic HER and oxygen evolution reaction activities.…”

Mesoporous Gold Nanostructures: Synthesis and Beyond

“…Mesoporous metals are a new type of nanostructured materials, whose nanoscale crystalline skeletons are solidly surrounded by abundant 2–50 nm mesopores. − Mesoporous metals have been recognized as second-generation mesoporous materials because of their intrinsic physiochemical properties, including high porosities, larger surface areas, abundant active sites, and better electroconductivities. They have been widely applied in catalysis, electrocatalysis, biosensors, and bioimaging, which are rarely achieved by other structures and/or compositions.…”