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At least 127 records · Page 7

Transformation of atomically dispersed platinum in SAPO-37 into platinum clusters: catalyst for ethylene hydrogenation

Atomically dispersed supported platinum catalysts were synthesized by the reaction of Pt(acac) 2 (acac = acetylacetonato) with the silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve SAPO-37, with infrared spectra showing that the reaction involved SAPO OH groups. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra show that, after heating in air to 623 K, each platinum atom on average was bonded to approximately two oxygen atoms of the SAPO support, with no evidence of platinum clusters. X-ray absorption near edge spectra (XANES) indicate a platinum formal oxidation state of approximately +2. Here, these supported mononuclear species lacked catalytic activity for ethylene hydrogenation at 1 bar and room temperature, but activity arose during catalysis in a once-through flow reactor/X-ray absorption spectroscopy cell, as the XANES white line intensity decreased, indicating reduction of the platinum, and the EXAFS-determined Pt–Pt coordination number (CN) increased from essentially zero to 2.7 ± 0.5 after 2 h, indicating the formation of platinum clusters of only a few atoms each. The data indicate the almost instantaneous formation of the clusters and identify them as the catalytically active species. Subsequent exposure of the catalyst to ethylene as in situ EXAFS and XANES data were recorded led to a decrease in the Pt–Pt coordination number to 1.6 ± 0.3 and an increase in the white line intensity, indicating partial oxidative fragmentation of the clusters by ethylene. Platinum clusters in SAPO-37 formed in separate experiments by exposure to H 2 prior to catalysis were also catalytically active for ethylene hydrogenation. Here, the data thus show how to dial in the catalytic activity by forming platinum clusters by exposure of mononuclear platinum to H 2 and how to dial back the activity by oxidative fragmentation of the clusters by reaction with ethylene, all under mild conditions; the ethylene : H 2 ratio of the reactant gas determines the average platinum nuclearity and thus the catalytic activity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Finite-Temperature Structures of Supported Subnanometer Catalysts Inferred via Statistical Learning and Genetic Algorithm-Based Optimization

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) minimize noble metal utilization and can alter the activity and selectivity of supported metal nanoparticles. However, the morphology of active centers, including single atoms and subnanometer clusters of a few atoms, remains elusive due to experimental challenges. The computational cost to describe numerous cluster shapes and sizes makes direct first-principles calculations impractical. We present a computational framework to enable structure determination for single-atom and subnanometer cluster catalysts. As a case study, we obtained the low energy structures of Pd n (n = 1-21) clusters supported on CeO 2 (111), which are critical components of automobile three-way catalysts. Trained on density functional theory data, a three-dimensional cluster expansion is established using statistical learning to describe the Hamiltonian and predict energies of supported Pdn clusters of any structure. Low energy stable and metastable structures are identified using a Metropolis Monte Carlo-based genetic algorithm in the canonical ensemble at 300 K. We observe that supported single atoms sinter to form bilayer clusters and large cluster isomers share similarities in both shape and energy, and elucidate the significance of the support and microstructure on cluster stability. We discovered a simple surrogate structure-energy model, where the energy per atom scales with the square root of the average first coordination number, which can be used to estimate energies and compare the stability of clusters. Our framework, applicable to any metal/support system, fills an important methodological gap to predict the stability of supported metal catalysts in the subnanometer regime.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Aggregation-induced phosphorescence sensitization in two heptanuclear and decanuclear gold–silver sandwich clusters

The strategy of aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) has been proven to be efficient in wide areas and has recently been adopted in the field of metal nanoclusters. Furthermore, the relationship between atomically precise clusters and AIEE is still unclear. Herein, we have successfully obtained two few-atom heterometallic gold–silver hepta-/decanuclear clusters, denoted Au 6 Ag and Au 9 Ag, and determined their structures by X-ray diffraction and mass spectrometry. The nature of the AuI…AgI interactions thereof is demonstrated through energy decomposition analysis to be far-beyond typical closed-shell metal–metal interaction dominated by dispersion interaction. Furthermore, a positive correlation has been established between the particle size of the nanoaggregates and the photoluminescence quantum yield for Au 6 Ag, manifesting AIEE control upon varying the stoichiometric ratio of Au : Ag in atomically-precise clusters.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Molecular dynamics study of interstitial He clusters in nickel

This study presents a molecular dynamics analysis focusing on the behavior of interstitial helium (He) clusters in nickel (Ni), examining their formation, stability, and migration energetics. Consistent with previous research, we found that the binding energies of interstitial helium within a helium cluster are positive and increase with the cluster size, indicating a preference for helium atoms to cluster together. However, our findings also reveal that while the formation energy increases monotonically with cluster size, the increase in binding energy is non-monotonic. Importantly, small He clusters were observed to be thermally unstable at reactor operational temperatures (approximately 600 K), with the He 2 cluster exhibiting instability even at room temperature. With a binding energy of 0.49 eV for a He 4 cluster, we hypothesize that for helium bubbles to form via homogeneous nucleation (i.e., through trap mutation) at reactor operating temperatures, the helium concentration must be high enough to facilitate the formation of helium clusters of at least size 4 or larger. As expected, interstitial helium and small helium clusters are highly mobile. This mobility was observed not only at room temperature but also at temperatures as low as approximately 200 K. Furthermore, the mean squared displacement method has been utilized to determine the migration barriers and the corresponding prefactors for clusters ranging from He 1 to He 6

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Unusually large 254 Atoms Counter‐Ion for 5 Atoms [Ge 5 ] 2– Cluster

Abstract . With the attempt to synthesize Nb‐enclosed germanium Zintl cluster ion in ethylenediamine ( en ) / toluene solution, the reaction of K 4 Ge 9 /Na 4 Ge 9 with Nb( mes ) 2 ( mes = mesitylene) gives unexpected 18‐crown‐6 cleavage product of [K 14 Na 2 (NbO 2 ) 2 (C 8 H 16 O 5 ) 8 ](Ge 5 ) ( en ) · solv in the form of very air‐sensitive, light‐brown, plate‐like crystals. This unique compound crystallizes in monoclinic Pn (No. 7) space group, the cleavage of crown linked the 14 potassium, 2 sodium, and 2 niobium atoms into the bulky 2+ charged cation, which balances the [Ge 5 ] 2– anion. This compound represents the rare example of heteronuclear metal alkoxide / Zintl ion hybrid.

Zavalij, Peter Y.↗

Palladium Single-Atom (In)Stability Under Aqueous Reductive Conditions

Here, we investigate the stability and performance of single-atom Pd on TiO 2 for the selective dechlorination of 4-chlorophenol. A challenge inherent to single atoms is their high surface free energy, which results in a tendency for the surface migration and aggregation of metal atoms. This work evaluates various factors affecting the stability of Pd single-atoms, including atomic dispersion, coordination environment, and substrate properties, under reductive aqueous conditions. The transition from single atoms to clusters vastly enhanced dechlorination kinetics without diminishing carbon–chlorine bond selectivity. X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis using both in situ and ex situ conditions followed the dynamic transformation of single atoms into amorphous clusters, which consist of a unique unsaturated coordination environment and few nanometer diameter. Importantly, the intricate relationship between stability and performance underscores the vital role of detailed characterization to properly determine the true active species for dehalogenation reactions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Highly selective electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction to ethanol by metallic clusters dynamically formed from atomically dispersed copper

Direct electrochemical conversion of CO 2 to ethanol offers a promising strategy of lowering CO 2 emission while storing energy from renewable electricity. However, current electrocatalysts offer only limited selectivity toward ethanol. Here we report a copper catalyst synthesized by a unique Cu-Li amalgm method over a commercial carbon support that achieved Faradaic efficiency (FE) higher than 91% at -0.7 V (RHE) and the active potential as low as -0.4 V (RHE) during direct electrocatalytic CO 2 -to-ethanol conversion. The catalyst also demonstrated stability over an extended period of operation. A strong correlation between the catalytic selectivity and the initial Cu atoms dispersion was found and Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy identified a dynamic and reversible transformation from atomically dispersed copper atoms to Cu n (n = 3 and 4) under the electrochemical reaction. Frist-principles calculations further elucidate the possible catalytic mechanism of CO 2 reduction over Cu n .

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

High-Spin Superatom Stabilized by Dual Subshell Filling

Quantum confinement in small symmetric clusters leads to the bunching of electronic states into closely packed shells, enabling the classification of clusters with well-defined valences as superatoms. Like atoms, superatomic clusters with filled shells exhibit enhanced electronic stability. Here, we show that octahedral transition-metal chalcogenide clusters can achieve filled shell electronic configurations when they have 100 valence electrons in 50 orbitals or 114 valence electrons in 57 orbitals. While these stable clusters are intrinsically diamagnetic, we use our understanding of their electronic structures to theoretically predict that a cluster with 107 valence electrons would uniquely combine high stability and high-spin magnetic moment, attained by filling a majority subshell of 57 electrons and a minority subshell of 50 electrons. Further, we experimentally demonstrate this predicted stability, high-spin magnetic moment (S = 7/2), and fully delocalized electronic structure in a new cluster, [NEt 4 ] 5 [Fe 6 S 8 (CN) 6 ]. This work presents the first computational and experimental demonstration of the importance of dual subshell filling in transition-metal chalcogenide clusters.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Oxidation Dynamics of Supported Catalytic Cu Clusters: Coupling to Fluxionality

Copper oxide nanoclusters have a wide range of catalytic applications, such as the selective oxidation of hydrocarbons. O 2 binding to the catalyst, activation, and release upon reagent oxidation are key events in these catalytic chemistries. Furthermore, these events are expected to be accompanied by significant structural changes of the Cu clusters, because O atoms integrate into the cluster, rather than bind to its surface. Topping the complexity of the problem, partially oxidized Cu clusters are known to exhibit strong fluxionality and feature diverse and interconverting structures and oxygen contents in conditions of oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH). Hence, a significant dynamic coupling between the “hot” O 2 molecule impacting the cluster at reaction temperatures and the cluster fluxionality can be expected. In this work, we focus on the dynamics of dioxygen integration into a partially oxidized Cu cluster supported on hydroxylated amorphous alumina–a system recently reported to be an exceptionally selective catalyst for cyclohexane ODH with very little CO produced, whose mechanistic underpinnings are of utmost interest. The statistics over a swarm of adsorption and scattering trajectories where O 2 hits various sites on the cluster at reaction temperature shows that the O 2 binding does not only follow the minimal energy paths. O 2 also rarely integrates into the cluster in a single step and instead first binds to a single Cu atom via either an η 1 -O 2 or an η 2 -O 2 mode. Surprisingly, this step often has a higher barrier than the subsequent O 2 integration and dissociation, which in turn take multiple steps and complete the oxidation process. Dynamic trajectories starting from the key transition state of integration of the adsorbed O 2 can also lead to different intermediate structures during or right after the dissociation, due to the energy released from the transition state and the thermal intracluster effects. From these activated O 2 chemisorbed structures, O 2 dissociation occurs with moderate barriers (~0.5 eV), producing multiple final oxidized Cu 4 O 4 states. Hence, a diversity of reaction profiles for the attack of supported Cu cluster by O 2 emerges due to the dynamic effects, with implications for mechanisms, kinetic models, and catalyst design principles.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Atom Probe Tomography Investigation of Clustering in Model P 2 O 5 -Doped Borosilicate Glasses for Nuclear Waste Vitrification

Atom probe tomography (APT) has been utilized to investigate the microstructure of two model borosilicate glasses designed to understand the solubility limits of phosphorous pentoxide (P 2 O 5 ). This component is found in certain high-level radioactive defence wastes destined for vitrification, where phase separation can potentially lead to a number of issues relating to the processing of the glass and its long-term chemical and structural stability. The development of suitable focused ion beam (FIB)-preparation routes and APT analysis conditions were initially determined for the model glasses, before examining their detailed microstructures. In a 3.0 mol% P 2 O 5 -doped glass, both visual inspection and sensitive statistical analysis of the APT data show homogeneous microstructures, while raising the content to 4.0 mol% initiates the formation of phosphorus-enriched nanoscale precipitates. This study confirms the expected inhomogeneities and phase separation of these glasses and offers routes to characterizing these at near-atomic scale resolution using APT.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Fine-Tuning of Pt Dispersion on Al 2 O 3 and Understanding the Nature of Active Pt Sites for Efficient CO and NH 3 Oxidation Reactions

Fine-tuning the dispersion of active metal species on widely used supports is a research hotspot in the catalysis community, which is vital for achieving a balance between the atomic utilization efficiency and the intrinsic activity of active sites. In this work, using bayerite Al(OH) 3 as support directly or after precalcination at 200 or 550 °C, Pt/Al 2 O 3 catalysts with distinct Pt dispersions from single atoms to clusters (ca. 2 nm) were prepared and evaluated for CO and NH 3 removal. Richer surface hydroxyl groups on AlO x (OH) y support were proved to better facilitate the dispersion of Pt. However, Pt/Al 2 O 3 with relatively lower Pt dispersion could exhibit better activity in CO/NH 3 oxidation reactions. Further reaction mechanism study revealed that the Pt sites on Pt/Al 2 O 3 with lower Pt dispersion could be activated to Pt 0 species much easier under the CO oxidation condition, on which a higher CO adsorption capacity and more efficient O 2 activation were achieved simultaneously. Compared to Pt single atoms, PtO x clusters could also better activate NH 3 into –NH 2 and –HNO species. The higher CO adsorption capacity and the more efficient NH 3 /O 2 activation ability on Pt/Al 2 O 3 with relatively lower Pt dispersion well explained its higher CO/NH 3 oxidation activity. This study emphasizes the importance of avoiding a singular pursuit of single-atom catalyst synthesis and instead focusing on achieving the most effective Pt species on Al 2 O 3 support for targeted reactions. Finally, this approach avoids unnecessary limitations and enables a more practical and efficient strategy for Pt catalyst fabrication in emission control applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Microstructurally informed synchrotron x-ray analysis revealing helium defect transitions in ultrafine grained tungsten

The formation of insoluble gaseous defects in materials due to nuclear transmutation or ion implantation involves the diffusion of impurity atoms to form atomic defect clusters that coalesce into bubbles or cavities and ultimately degrade the material properties. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is limited in its ability to resolve sub-nanometer gas clusters whereas X-ray diffraction (XRD) provides information pertaining to local atomic changes. Here, in this study, helium (He) implanted ultrafine grained tungsten is explored through a multimodal defect characterization campaign combining TEM-informed Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) analysis, XRD lattice parameter measurements, and nanoscale He cluster quantification from a region of reciprocal space accessible via Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS). Moderate elevated temperature implantations are shown to produce high concentrations of sub-nanoscale He clusters and small, homogeneously distributed cavities, which collectively are linked to lattice expansion and further substantiated through complementary atomistic simulations. Increased implantation temperatures encourage the diffusion of these defects to the grain boundaries (GBs), leading to lattice relaxation and the growth of large GB cavities manifesting as bimodal size distributions in the SAXS analysis. Overall, our results demonstrate the utility of multimodal synchrotron X-ray analysis in bridging the gap between microscale He cavity quantification and atomic-scale defect analysis.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Combining artificial intelligence and physics-based modeling to directly assess atomic site stabilities: from sub-nanometer clusters to extended surfaces

The performance of functional materials is dictated by chemical and structural properties of individual atomic sites. In catalysts, for instance, the thermodynamic stability of constituting atomic sites is a key descriptor from which more complex properties, such as molecular adsorption energies and reaction rates, can be derived. In this study, we present a widely applicable machine learning (ML) approach to instantaneously compute the stability of individual atomic sites in structurally and electronically complex nano-materials. Conventionally, we determine such site stabilities using computationally intensive first-principles calculations. With our approach, we predict the stability of atomic sites in sub-nanometer metal clusters of 3–55 atoms with mean absolute errors in the range of 0.11–0.14 eV. To extract physical insights from the ML model, we introduce a genetic algorithm (GA) for feature selection. This algorithm distills the key structural and chemical properties governing the stability of atomic sites in size-selected nanoparticles, allowing for physical interpretability of the models and revealing structure–property relationships. The results of the GA are generally model and materials specific. In the limit of large nanoparticles, the GA identifies features consistent with physics-based models for metal–metal interactions. By combining the ML model with the physics-based model, we predict atomic site stabilities in real time for structures ranging from sub-nanometer metal clusters (3–55 atom) to larger nanoparticles (147 to 309 atoms) to extended surfaces using a physically interpretable framework. Finally, we present a proof of principle showcasing how our approach can determine stable and active nanocatalysts across a generic materials space of structure and composition.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Effect of Confinement of SIA Cluster Diffusion by Impurities on Radiation Defect Accumulation due to 14MeV neutrons in Tungsten

Impurities acting as traps, reduce the self-interstitial atom (SIA) cluster mobility, thereby increasing recombination and in turn enhancing radiation-resistance of polycrystalline materials. However, at elevated temperatures, depending on SIA-trap (impurity) binding energy, SIA clusters may trap and detrap (detach) numerous times. In tungsten, SIA clusters of all sizes glide one-dimensionally (1D) along their Burgers vector direction. Hence, detrapped SIAs would retrace their path, confining their 1D-glide between traps. However, small SIA clusters can change the direction of their 1D-glide by overcoming a rotation barrier. In addition, impurities or solutes are known to reduce this barrier. A lower rotation barrier can result in detrapped SIA clusters that diffuse in a random 1D direction, effectively leading to 3D (net-3D) diffusion. Here we investigate the effect of two cases of SIA diffusion, namely confined-1D diffusion and net-3D diffusion, on the damage accumulation in polycrystalline tungsten under 14 MeV neutron irradiation using the object kinetic Monte Carlo method. Simulations were performed using cascade debris obtained from molecular dynamics simulations with primary knock-on atom (PKA) energies corresponding to 14 MeV neutrons. In the simulations with net-3D diffusion, SIA clusters of all sizes diffuse in a random 1D direction after the clusters detrap. While for the confined 1D diffusion case, SIA clusters larger than size 5 retain their original direction of 1D-glide. In both types of simulations, trapped vacancies are assumed to be permanently immobilized. Unexpectedly, the damage accumulation was lower with confined 1D diffusion than that with net-3D. We present a systematic comparison of the influence of the two cases of SIA diffusion on the radiation damage accumulation as a function of dose rate, detrapping barrier, and impurity concentration at 1025 K.

Accumulation and recovery of lattice damage, tungs↗

Atomically Precise Hexanuclear Ce(IV) Clusters as Functional Fluorescent Nanosensors for Rapid One-Step Detection of PFAS

Here, the presence of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment is associated with adverse health effects but measuring PFAS is challenging due to the associated high cost and technical complexities of the analysis. Here, the reactivity of atomically precise metal-oxo clusters is reported and the foundation for their use is provided as fluorescent nanosensors for PFAS detection. The material comprises crystalline, water soluble, hexanuclear cerium-oxo clusters [Ce 6 (µ 3 -O) 4 (µ 3 -OH) 4 ] 12+ decorated with glycine molecules (Ce-Gly) characterized by fluorescence emission at 353 nm. The Ce-Gly fluorescence is found sensitive to long chain carboxylated PFAS of CF 3 –(CF 2 ) n –, where n ≥ 6, such as perfluorooctanoic, perfluorononanoic and perfluorodecanoic acids. This unique reactivity leads to a change in the emission spectra in a concentration dependent manner, enabling PFAS detection through ligand exchange and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) enhancement. No significant cross-reactivity from potentially co-existing species, including sulfonated PFAS, octanoic and dodecanoic acids, humic acid, and inorganic ions is observed. With an optimal concentration of 3.3 µg mL -1 Ce-Gly, the method demonstrated detection limits of 0.24 ppb for PFOA and 0.4 ppb for PFNA. These findings highlight the potential of fluorescence-based detection strategies utilizing nanoscale probes such as Ce-Gly as fluorescent probes and nanosensors for PFAS.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Probing the Mechanism of Cadmium Sulfide Cluster Nucleation and Growth via Sequential Infiltration Synthesis

Few-atom metal chalcogenide clusters may be realized through the sequential infiltration of metal–organic precursors in polymer films. However, the underlying nucleation and growth mechanisms that allow for cluster synthesis with near atomic-scale precision are not fully resolved. The kinetics of the sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) method that control the nucleation and growth mechanisms of primarily Cd 4 S 4 -core clusters within a poly­(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) matrix are probed with in situ UV–visible absorbance spectroscopy. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations that allow simulation of the optical properties of cluster fragments further reveal the thermodynamics that guide cluster growth within the P4VP matrix. Here, we conclude that a reactive capture mechanism for cluster nucleation and growth is dominant, although transient dimethyl cadmium adduction to the polymer backbone may contribute to cluster nucleation under shorter metal–organic purge process conditions. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GI-XRD) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analyses further corroborate the cluster size and atom connectivity throughout the stepwise synthesis.

Jayaweera, Nuwanthaka P. [Argonne National Laborat↗

Detecting Cage Crossing and Filling Clusters of Magnesium and Carbon Atoms in Zeolite SSZ-13 with Atom Probe Tomography

The conversion of methanol to valuable hydrocarbon molecules is of great commercial interest, as the process serves as a sustainable alternative for the production of, for instance, the base chemicals for plastics. The reaction is catalyzed by zeolite materials. By the introduction of magnesium as a cationic metal, the properties of the zeolite, and thereby the catalytic performance, are changed. With atom probe tomography (APT), nanoscale relations within zeolite materials can be revealed: i.e., crucial information for a fundamental mechanistic understanding. We show that magnesium forms clusters within the cages of zeolite SSZ-13, while the framework elements are homogeneously distributed. These clusters of just a few nanometers were analyzed and visualized in 3-D. Magnesium atoms seem to initially be directed to the aluminum sites, after which they aggregate and fill one or two cages in the zeolite SSZ-13 structure. The presence of magnesium in zeolite SSZ-13 increases the lifetime as well as the propylene selectivity. By using operando UV–vis spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques, we are able to show that these findings are related to the suppression of aromatic intermediate products, while maintaining the formation of polyaromatic compounds. Further nanoscale analysis of the spent catalysts showed indications of magnesium redistribution after catalysis. Unlike zeolite H-SSZ-13, for which only a homogeneous distribution of carbon was found, carbon can be either homogeneously or heterogeneously distributed within zeolite Mg-SSZ-13 crystals as the magnesium decreases the coking rate. Carbon clusters were isolated, visualized, and analyzed and were assumed to be polyaromatic compounds. Small one-cage-filling polyaromatic compounds were identified; furthermore, large-cage-crossing aromatic molecules were found by isolating large coke clusters, demonstrating the unique coking mechanism in zeolite SSZ-13. Short-length-scale evidence for the formation of polyaromatic compounds at acid sites is discovered, as clear nanoscale relations between aluminum and carbon atoms exist.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗