Abstract
Bimetallic nanocatalysts are key enablers of current chemical technologies, including car exhaust converters and fuel cells, and play a crucial role in industry to promote a wide range of chemical reactions. However, owing to significant characterization challenges, insights in the dynamic phenomena that shape and change the working state of the catalyst await further refinement. Herein, we discuss the atomic‐scale processes leading to mono‐ and bimetallic nanoparticle formation and highlight the dynamics and kinetics of lifetime changes in bimetallic catalysts with showcase examples for Pt‐based systems. We discuss how in situ and operando X‐ray spectroscopy, scattering, and diffraction can be used as a complementary toolbox to interrogate the working principles of today's and tomorrow's bimetallic nanocatalysts.
Highlights
The geometric effect results from the decrease of the active metal ensemble size at the surface of a bimetallic NP owing to the presence of alloying metals
Galvita received his PhD in Chemistry in 1999 at Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, after which he continued as postdoctoral researcher at Max-Planck-Institute and University of California, Berkeley
To illustrate todays status and future potential of X-ray tools, we present showcase examples which mainly focus on Pt-based bimetallic nanocatalysts
Summary
Bimetallic nanoparticle (NP) catalysts display extraordinary physicochemical properties compared to their monometallic counterparts.[1,2,3,4] When initially introduced by Sinfelt et al, Ni-Cu, Ru-Cu, and Os-Cu were found to reduce undesired CÀC activation for hydrogenolysis compared to monometallic Ni, Ru, and Os, while maintaining their CÀH activation abilities for dehydrogenation.[5]. The geometric effect results from the decrease of the active metal ensemble size at the surface of a bimetallic NP owing to the presence of alloying metals. Such decrease can result in (partial) inhibition of structure sensitive reactions for which active metal islands are required, and forms a tool to steer the catalyst selectivity. To decipher the observed phenomena in greater detail, defining four layers of complexity aids in deconvoluting the structural complexity of bimetallic nanocatalysts. Nanoalloy formation can lead to NP shape and size changes compared to their monometallic analogues
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