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Formation of a Highly Reactive Cobalt Nanocluster Crystal within a Highly Negatively Charged Porous Coordination Cage
Author(s) -
Fang Yu,
Xiao Zhifeng,
Li Jialuo,
Lollar Christina,
Liu Lujia,
Lian Xizhen,
Yuan Shuai,
Banerjee Sayan,
Zhang Peng,
Zhou HongCai
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201712372
Subject(s) - nanoclusters , catalysis , cobalt , chemistry , ammonia borane , transition metal , hydrolysis , nanoparticle , porosity , inorganic chemistry , crystallography , nanotechnology , materials science , organic chemistry , dehydrogenation
Earth‐abundant first‐row transition‐metal nanoclusters (NCs) have been extensively investigated as catalysts. However, their catalytic activity is relatively low compared with noble metal NCs. Enhanced catalytic activity of cobalt NCs can be achieved by encapsulating Co NCs in soluble porous coordination cages (PCCs). Two cages, PCC‐2a and 2b, possess almost identical cavity in shape and size, while PCC‐2a has five times more net charges than PCC‐2b. Co 2+ cations were accumulated in PCC‐2a and reduced to ultra‐small Co NCs in situ, while for PCC‐2b, only bulky Co particles were formed. As a result, Co NCs@PCC‐2a accomplished the highest catalytic activity in the hydrolysis of ammonium borane among all the first‐row transition‐metals NCs. Based on these results, it is envisioned that confining in the charged porous coordination cage could be a novel route for the synthesis of ultra‐small NCs with extraordinary properties.