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Fabricating Dual‐Atom Iron Catalysts for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction: A Heteroatom Modulator Approach
Author(s) -
Wei YongSheng,
Sun Liming,
Wang Miao,
Hong Jinhua,
Zou Lianli,
Liu Hongwen,
Wang Yu,
Zhang Mei,
Liu Zheng,
Li Yinwei,
Horike Satoshi,
Suenaga Kazu,
Xu Qiang
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202007221
Subject(s) - nanoclusters , heteroatom , isostructural , catalysis , metal , chemistry , moiety , dimer , crystallography , inorganic chemistry , photochemistry , crystal structure , stereochemistry , organic chemistry , ring (chemistry)
Understanding the thermal aggregation behavior of metal atoms is important for the synthesis of supported metal clusters. Here, derived from a metal–organic framework encapsulating a trinuclear Fe III 2 Fe II complex (denoted as Fe 3 ) within the channels, a well‐defined nitrogen‐doped carbon layer is fabricated as an ideal support for stabilizing the generated iron nanoclusters. Atomic replacement of Fe II by other metal(II) ions (e.g., Zn II /Co II ) via synthesizing isostructural trinuclear‐complex precursors (Fe 2 Zn/Fe 2 Co), namely the “heteroatom modulator approach”, is inhibiting the aggregation of Fe atoms toward nanoclusters with formation of a stable iron dimer in an optimal metal–nitrogen moiety, clearly identified by direct transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray absorption fine structure analysis. The supported iron dimer, serving as cooperative metal–metal site, acts as efficient oxygen evolution catalyst. Our findings offer an atomic insight to guide the future design of ultrasmall metal clusters bearing outstanding catalytic capabilities.