Enhanced Catalytic Performance of Subnano Copper Oxide Particles.

Sonobe, Kazutaka; Tanabe, Makoto; Yamamoto, Kimihisa · ACS Nano · 2020

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Subnanoparticles (SNPs) with ultrasmall particle sizes (<1 nm) have potential to provide catalytic activity that is superior to that of nanoparticles. Size-controlled Cu<sub><i>n</i></sub>O<sub><i>x</i></sub> (<i>n</i> = 12, 28, and 60) materials supported on zirconia, prepared using a dendritic macromolecular reactor, exhibited increased ionicity of the Cu-O bonds with a decrease in size of the particles, which was suggested on the basis of the peak intensity in the Cu 2p<sub>3/2</sub> region. The polarization of the Cu-O bonds in the ultrasmall copper oxides provides size-dependent catalytic activity in aerobic oxidation of the CH<sub>3</sub> group bonded with aromatic rings. The smallest Cu<sub>12</sub>O<sub><i>x</i></sub> materials achieved an excellent large turnover number (TON = 40 206) without any significant deactivation.