ACS Materials AuPub Date : 2025-05-14DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c0003710.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00037
Aiswarya Rayaroth, Christine Fiedler and Maria Ibáñez*,
{"title":"Let Us FIGURE It Out: Why Do Scientists Still Make “Bad” Figures?","authors":"Aiswarya Rayaroth, Christine Fiedler and Maria Ibáñez*, ","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c0003710.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00037https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00037","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":29798,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Au","volume":"5 3","pages":"438–440 438–440"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00037","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143941051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Materials AuPub Date : 2025-05-14DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00037
Aiswarya Rayaroth, Christine Fiedler, Maria Ibáñez
{"title":"Let Us FIGURE It Out: Why Do Scientists Still Make \"Bad\" Figures?","authors":"Aiswarya Rayaroth, Christine Fiedler, Maria Ibáñez","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00037","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00037","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":29798,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Au","volume":"5 3","pages":"438-440"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12082350/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144095017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Materials AuPub Date : 2025-04-29eCollection Date: 2025-05-14DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00161
Connor P Cox, Qishen Lyu, Madeleine K Wilsey, Likun Cai, Lydia R Schultz, Jason R Maher, Astrid M Müller
{"title":"Interfacial Microenvironment Effects at Laser-Made Gold Nanoparticles Steer Carbon Dioxide Reduction Product Generation.","authors":"Connor P Cox, Qishen Lyu, Madeleine K Wilsey, Likun Cai, Lydia R Schultz, Jason R Maher, Astrid M Müller","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00161","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00161","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study emphasizes the critical importance of using surfactant-free gold nanoparticles to gain mechanistic insights and improve the energy efficiency and carbon monoxide selectivity in aqueous carbon dioxide reduction electrocatalysis. We utilized pulsed laser in liquid synthesis to prepare surfactant-free gold nanoparticles with a nonequilibrium cauliflower morphology, which demonstrated superior catalytic performance compared to conventionally synthesized citrate-capped gold nanoparticles. By functionalizing gold nanoparticles with nine <i>n</i>-alkanethiols and two nitrogen-containing thiols, we investigated how the chemical identity of interfacial ligands and their corresponding self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) influence the selectivity and activity of gold nanoparticle-catalyzed CO<sub>2</sub> reduction. This approach enabled a detailed understanding of how SAM characteristics at gold nanocatalyst interfaces affect key aspects of CO<sub>2</sub> electrocatalysis, including CO<sub>2</sub> mass transport and interfacial water behavior. The laser-synthesized gold nanoparticles exhibited improved performance across all surface modifications. Our findings highlight the significance of precise control over material surfaces in understanding catalyst microenvironments, which is essential for optimizing CO<sub>2</sub> reduction processes and forming a foundation for sustainable syngas production through tailored nanomaterial design and functionalization strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":29798,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Au","volume":"5 3","pages":"522-536"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12082361/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144095003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Materials AuPub Date : 2025-04-29DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c0016110.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00161
Connor P. Cox, Qishen Lyu, Madeleine K. Wilsey, Likun Cai, Lydia R. Schultz, Jason R. Maher and Astrid M. Müller*,
{"title":"Interfacial Microenvironment Effects at Laser-Made Gold Nanoparticles Steer Carbon Dioxide Reduction Product Generation","authors":"Connor P. Cox, Qishen Lyu, Madeleine K. Wilsey, Likun Cai, Lydia R. Schultz, Jason R. Maher and Astrid M. Müller*, ","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c0016110.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00161https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00161","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This study emphasizes the critical importance of using surfactant-free gold nanoparticles to gain mechanistic insights and improve the energy efficiency and carbon monoxide selectivity in aqueous carbon dioxide reduction electrocatalysis. We utilized pulsed laser in liquid synthesis to prepare surfactant-free gold nanoparticles with a nonequilibrium cauliflower morphology, which demonstrated superior catalytic performance compared to conventionally synthesized citrate-capped gold nanoparticles. By functionalizing gold nanoparticles with nine <i>n</i>-alkanethiols and two nitrogen-containing thiols, we investigated how the chemical identity of interfacial ligands and their corresponding self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) influence the selectivity and activity of gold nanoparticle-catalyzed CO<sub>2</sub> reduction. This approach enabled a detailed understanding of how SAM characteristics at gold nanocatalyst interfaces affect key aspects of CO<sub>2</sub> electrocatalysis, including CO<sub>2</sub> mass transport and interfacial water behavior. The laser-synthesized gold nanoparticles exhibited improved performance across all surface modifications. Our findings highlight the significance of precise control over material surfaces in understanding catalyst microenvironments, which is essential for optimizing CO<sub>2</sub> reduction processes and forming a foundation for sustainable syngas production through tailored nanomaterial design and functionalization strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":29798,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Au","volume":"5 3","pages":"522–536 522–536"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00161","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143941027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Materials AuPub Date : 2025-04-17DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c0017710.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00177
Dennis D. Nguyen, Mara J. Milhander, Elizabeth M. Hitch, Dmitri Leo M. Cordova, Jose L. Gonzalez Jimenez, Juana Mora, Daniel Sandoval, Maxx Q. Arguilla and Allyson M. Fry-Petit*,
{"title":"Direct Correlation of the Crystalline Phases of La0.9Sr0.1Co1–yFeyO3−δ with the Partial Oxidation of Methane via In Situ Neutron and Synchrotron Diffraction","authors":"Dennis D. Nguyen, Mara J. Milhander, Elizabeth M. Hitch, Dmitri Leo M. Cordova, Jose L. Gonzalez Jimenez, Juana Mora, Daniel Sandoval, Maxx Q. Arguilla and Allyson M. Fry-Petit*, ","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c0017710.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00177","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00177https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00177","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Oxygen transport membranes find broad usage in many technologies, but due to the harsh conditions under which such technologies operate, detailed structural analysis under operational conditions has been limited. This work details the <i>in situ</i> neutron and synchrotron diffraction of the industrially relevant family of compounds, La<sub>0.9</sub>Sr<sub>0.1</sub>Co<sub>1–<i>y</i></sub>Fe<i><sub>y</sub></i>O<sub>3−δ</sub> (<i>y</i> = 0, 0.25, 0.75, 1), under reductive and oxidative conditions at elevated temperatures ranging from 723 to 1123 K. Quantitative Rietveld refinements determine the molar fraction of all crystalline intermediates and products that form during the reactions of La<sub>0.9</sub>Sr<sub>0.1</sub>Co<sub>1–<i>y</i></sub>Fe<i><sub>y</sub></i>O<sub>3−δ</sub> (<i>y</i> = 0, 0.25, 0.75, 1) with methane and then air. Coupling <i>in situ</i> diffraction analysis with catalytic product analysis of the partial oxidation of methane allows for the catalytically active phases to be determined. This work shows the strength of <i>in situ</i> diffraction under extreme conditions and the insights it can give about reactions in the solid state that have previously been elusive.</p>","PeriodicalId":29798,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Au","volume":"5 3","pages":"547–557 547–557"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00177","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143940750","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Materials AuPub Date : 2025-04-17eCollection Date: 2025-05-14DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00177
Dennis D Nguyen, Mara J Milhander, Elizabeth M Hitch, Dmitri Leo M Cordova, Jose L Gonzalez Jimenez, Juana Mora, Daniel Sandoval, Maxx Q Arguilla, Allyson M Fry-Petit
{"title":"Direct Correlation of the Crystalline Phases of La<sub>0.9</sub>Sr<sub>0.1</sub>Co<sub>1-<i>y</i></sub> Fe <i><sub>y</sub></i> O<sub>3-δ</sub> with the Partial Oxidation of Methane via <i>In Situ</i> Neutron and Synchrotron Diffraction.","authors":"Dennis D Nguyen, Mara J Milhander, Elizabeth M Hitch, Dmitri Leo M Cordova, Jose L Gonzalez Jimenez, Juana Mora, Daniel Sandoval, Maxx Q Arguilla, Allyson M Fry-Petit","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00177","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00177","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oxygen transport membranes find broad usage in many technologies, but due to the harsh conditions under which such technologies operate, detailed structural analysis under operational conditions has been limited. This work details the <i>in situ</i> neutron and synchrotron diffraction of the industrially relevant family of compounds, La<sub>0.9</sub>Sr<sub>0.1</sub>Co<sub>1-<i>y</i></sub> Fe <i><sub>y</sub></i> O<sub>3-δ</sub> (<i>y</i> = 0, 0.25, 0.75, 1), under reductive and oxidative conditions at elevated temperatures ranging from 723 to 1123 K. Quantitative Rietveld refinements determine the molar fraction of all crystalline intermediates and products that form during the reactions of La<sub>0.9</sub>Sr<sub>0.1</sub>Co<sub>1-<i>y</i></sub> Fe <i><sub>y</sub></i> O<sub>3-δ</sub> (<i>y</i> = 0, 0.25, 0.75, 1) with methane and then air. Coupling <i>in situ</i> diffraction analysis with catalytic product analysis of the partial oxidation of methane allows for the catalytically active phases to be determined. This work shows the strength of <i>in situ</i> diffraction under extreme conditions and the insights it can give about reactions in the solid state that have previously been elusive.</p>","PeriodicalId":29798,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Au","volume":"5 3","pages":"547-557"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12082351/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144094879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Materials AuPub Date : 2025-04-14eCollection Date: 2025-05-14DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00010
Simran S Saund, Melissa K Gish, Jeremiah Choate, Trung H Le, Smaranda C Marinescu, Nathan R Neale
{"title":"Design Strategies for Coupling CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction Molecular Electrocatalysts to Silicon Photocathodes.","authors":"Simran S Saund, Melissa K Gish, Jeremiah Choate, Trung H Le, Smaranda C Marinescu, Nathan R Neale","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00010","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We explore strategies for enhancing the electronic interaction between silicon nanocrystals (Si NCs) and surface-tethered molecular Re electrocatalysts ([Re]) as models for CO<sub>2</sub>-reducing photocathodes. Using density functional theory (DFT) combined with electrochemical, spectroscopic, and photocatalytic measurements, we determine that the intrinsic Si (<sup>i</sup>Si) NC conduction band energy in <sup>i</sup>Si-[Re] assemblies is below the [Re] lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and singly occupied molecular orbital energies even for strongly quantum-confined 3.0-3.9 nm diameter hydrogen- and methyl-terminated <sup>i</sup>Si NCs, respectively. We computationally analyze design strategies to align the semiconductor conduction band edge and electrocatalyst frontier molecular orbitals by varying the <sup>i</sup>Si NC size, introducing boron as a dopant in the Si NC, and modifying the attachment chemistry to the [Re] complex aryl ligand framework. Our DFT analysis identifies a target hybrid structure featuring B-doped silicon (B:Si) NCs and a direct bond between a surface atom and an sp<sup>2</sup>-hybridized carbon of the electrocatalyst bipyridine aryl ring ligand (B:Si-C<sub>Ar</sub>[Re]). We synthesize the B:Si-C<sub>Ar</sub>[Re] NC assembly and find evidence of direct hybridization between the B:Si NC and the surface [Re] electrocatalyst LUMO using electrochemical measurements and transient absorption spectroscopy. This work provides a blueprint for the design of new Si photocathode-molecular electrocatalyst hybrids for CO<sub>2</sub> reduction and related fuel-forming photocatalytic conversions.</p>","PeriodicalId":29798,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Au","volume":"5 3","pages":"569-579"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12082352/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144094875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Materials AuPub Date : 2025-04-14DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c0001010.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00010
Simran S. Saund, Melissa K. Gish, Jeremiah Choate, Trung H. Le, Smaranda C. Marinescu and Nathan R. Neale*,
{"title":"Design Strategies for Coupling CO2 Reduction Molecular Electrocatalysts to Silicon Photocathodes","authors":"Simran S. Saund, Melissa K. Gish, Jeremiah Choate, Trung H. Le, Smaranda C. Marinescu and Nathan R. Neale*, ","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c0001010.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00010https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00010","url":null,"abstract":"<p >We explore strategies for enhancing the electronic interaction between silicon nanocrystals (Si NCs) and surface-tethered molecular Re electrocatalysts ([Re]) as models for CO<sub>2</sub>-reducing photocathodes. Using density functional theory (DFT) combined with electrochemical, spectroscopic, and photocatalytic measurements, we determine that the intrinsic Si (<sup>i</sup>Si) NC conduction band energy in <sup>i</sup>Si–[Re] assemblies is below the [Re] lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and singly occupied molecular orbital energies even for strongly quantum-confined 3.0–3.9 nm diameter hydrogen- and methyl-terminated <sup>i</sup>Si NCs, respectively. We computationally analyze design strategies to align the semiconductor conduction band edge and electrocatalyst frontier molecular orbitals by varying the <sup>i</sup>Si NC size, introducing boron as a dopant in the Si NC, and modifying the attachment chemistry to the [Re] complex aryl ligand framework. Our DFT analysis identifies a target hybrid structure featuring B-doped silicon (B:Si) NCs and a direct bond between a surface atom and an sp<sup>2</sup>-hybridized carbon of the electrocatalyst bipyridine aryl ring ligand (B:Si–C<sub>Ar</sub>[Re]). We synthesize the B:Si–C<sub>Ar</sub>[Re] NC assembly and find evidence of direct hybridization between the B:Si NC and the surface [Re] electrocatalyst LUMO using electrochemical measurements and transient absorption spectroscopy. This work provides a blueprint for the design of new Si photocathode-molecular electrocatalyst hybrids for CO<sub>2</sub> reduction and related fuel-forming photocatalytic conversions.</p>","PeriodicalId":29798,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Au","volume":"5 3","pages":"569–579 569–579"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00010","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143940746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Materials AuPub Date : 2025-04-10eCollection Date: 2025-05-14DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00017
Isabel C Freitas, Davi D Petrolini, Jean Marcel R Gallo, Paula C P Caldas, Daniela C de Oliveira, João B O Santos, Clelia Mara de Paula Marques, José Maria Correa Bueno
{"title":"Tailoring Cu-Based Catalysts Supported on ZrO<sub>2</sub>-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> for Efficient and Selective Ethanol Conversion to Ethyl Acetate.","authors":"Isabel C Freitas, Davi D Petrolini, Jean Marcel R Gallo, Paula C P Caldas, Daniela C de Oliveira, João B O Santos, Clelia Mara de Paula Marques, José Maria Correa Bueno","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00017","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Selective conversion of ethanol to ethyl acetate is of significant industrial and environmental relevance, providing a sustainable route for adding value to ethanol. This study investigated Cu-based catalysts supported on ZrO<sub>2</sub>-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, focusing on the relationships among copper loading, metal-oxide interactions, and catalytic performance. Systematic variation of the copper content revealed that the Cu<sup>+</sup>/Cu<sup>0</sup> ratio and the particle size distribution are crucial determinants of product selectivity. Lower copper loadings favored acetaldehyde production due to a higher Cu<sup>+</sup>/Cu<sup>0</sup> ratio, while higher loadings favored Cu<sup>0</sup> species and enhanced ethyl acetate selectivity by facilitating the formation of acyl species at the metal-oxide interface. The incorporation of ZrO<sub>2</sub> was important for the creation of active sites necessary for condensation reactions. Advanced characterization techniques ((diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy DRIFTS)-CO, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS)) elucidated key electronic and structural properties, showing the need to tailor the copper loading and the composition of the support to ensure efficient and sustainable ethanol conversion.</p>","PeriodicalId":29798,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Au","volume":"5 3","pages":"593-608"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12082363/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144095059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Materials AuPub Date : 2025-04-09DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c0001710.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00017
Isabel C. Freitas, Davi D. Petrolini, Jean Marcel R. Gallo, Paula C. P. Caldas, Daniela C. de Oliveira, João B. O. Santos, Clelia Mara de Paula Marques and José Maria CorreaBueno*,
{"title":"Tailoring Cu-Based Catalysts Supported on ZrO2–Al2O3 for Efficient and Selective Ethanol Conversion to Ethyl Acetate","authors":"Isabel C. Freitas, Davi D. Petrolini, Jean Marcel R. Gallo, Paula C. P. Caldas, Daniela C. de Oliveira, João B. O. Santos, Clelia Mara de Paula Marques and José Maria CorreaBueno*, ","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c0001710.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00017https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00017","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Selective conversion of ethanol to ethyl acetate is of significant industrial and environmental relevance, providing a sustainable route for adding value to ethanol. This study investigated Cu-based catalysts supported on ZrO<sub>2</sub>–Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, focusing on the relationships among copper loading, metal–oxide interactions, and catalytic performance. Systematic variation of the copper content revealed that the Cu<sup>+</sup>/Cu<sup>0</sup> ratio and the particle size distribution are crucial determinants of product selectivity. Lower copper loadings favored acetaldehyde production due to a higher Cu<sup>+</sup>/Cu<sup>0</sup> ratio, while higher loadings favored Cu<sup>0</sup> species and enhanced ethyl acetate selectivity by facilitating the formation of acyl species at the metal–oxide interface. The incorporation of ZrO<sub>2</sub> was important for the creation of active sites necessary for condensation reactions. Advanced characterization techniques ((diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy DRIFTS)-CO, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS)) elucidated key electronic and structural properties, showing the need to tailor the copper loading and the composition of the support to ensure efficient and sustainable ethanol conversion.</p>","PeriodicalId":29798,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Au","volume":"5 3","pages":"593–608 593–608"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00017","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143940706","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}