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Polyoxoanion- and tetrabutylammonium-stabilized, near-monodisperse, 40 {+-} 6 {angstrom} Rh(0){sub {approximately}1500} to Rh(0){sub {approximately}3700} nanoclusters: Synthesis, characterization, and hydrogenation catalysis

Journal Article · · Chemistry of Materials
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/cm980699w· OSTI ID:347499
;  [1]
  1. Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States). Dept. of Chemistry

Polyoxoanion- and tetrabutylammonium-stabilized near-monodisperse 40 {+-} 6 {angstrom} Rh(0){sub {approximately}1500} to Rh(0){sub {approximately}3700} nanoclusters have been prepared by hydrogen reduction, in acetone, of a polyoxoanion-supported Rh(I) complex, [(n-C{sub 4}H{sub 9}){sub 4}N]{sub 5}Na{sub 3}[(1,5-COD)Rh{center_dot}P{sub 2}W{sub 15}Nb{sub 3}O{sub 62}], a reaction in which the resultant Rh(0) nanoclusters are isolated as a black powder that can be fully redispersed in non-aqueous solvents such as acetonitrile; they have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, electron diffraction, UV-vis spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Ion-exchange chromatography shows that the isolated Rh(0) nanoclusters are stabilized by the adsorption of the polyoxoanion onto their outer surfaces. Hydrogen gas-uptake stoichiometry, in combination with quantitative kinetic evidence, is presented, indicating that the nanoclusters grow by the slow nucleation, then fast autocatalytic surface-growth, mechanism recently reported for their Ir(0){sub {approximately}300} congeners. The isolated Rh(0) nanoclusters are also active cyclohexene hydrogenation catalysts in solution; Hg(0) poisoning experiments confirm that the Rh(0) nanoclusters are the active catalyst. These are only the second example of polyoxoanion-stabilized transition-metal nanoclusters; their availability, as well as the record stability and catalytic lifetime in solution of polyoxoanion-stabilized transition-metal nanoclusters, makes possible both fundamental and practical investigations of Rh(0) metal-particle catalysis in solution.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG06-89ER13998
OSTI ID:
347499
Journal Information:
Chemistry of Materials, Journal Name: Chemistry of Materials Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 11; ISSN 0897-4756; ISSN CMATEX
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English