催化学报 ›› 2026, Vol. 87: 396-409.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(26)65113-3

• 论文 • 上一篇    

配体-壳层工程设计Au25纳米团簇加速CO2电还原生成比例可调的合成气

李博文, 林长霖, 王琪, 伦永烽, 方俊, 宋树芹*(), 王毅*()   

  1. 中山大学化学工程与技术学院, 材料科学与工程学院, 广东省低碳化学与节能重点实验室, PCFM实验室, 广东广州 510275
  • 收稿日期:2026-02-03 接受日期:2026-02-15 出版日期:2026-08-18 发布日期:2026-06-24
  • 通讯作者: *电子信箱: wangyi76@mail.sysu.edu.cn (王毅),
    stsssq@mail.sysu.edu.cn (宋树芹).
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金(22478451);国家自然科学基金(22478450);国家自然科学基金(22408408);能源催化转化全国重点实验室(2024SKL-A-013);榆林市清洁能源创新研究院能源革命科技专项(E511030817);广东省基础与应用基础研究基金(2024A1515012565);中山大学引进人才启动基金(76110-12256023)

Ligand-shell engineering of a Au25 nanocluster boosting CO2 electroreduction to syngas with tunable range proportion

Bowen Li, Changlin Lin, Qi Wang, Yongfeng Lun, Jun Fang, Shuqin Song*(), Yi Wang*()   

  1. The Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Chemistry & Energy Conservation of Guangdong Province, PCFM Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China
  • Received:2026-02-03 Accepted:2026-02-15 Online:2026-08-18 Published:2026-06-24
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(22478451);National Natural Science Foundation of China(22478450);National Natural Science Foundation of China(22408408);National State Key Laboratory of Catalysis(2024SKL-A-013);Energy Revolution S&T Program of Yulin Innovation Institute of Clean Energy(E511030817);Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2024A1515012565);Startup Fund for Recruited Talents of Sun Yat-sen University(76110-12256023)

摘要:

具有明确分子结构的原子级精确金纳米团簇, 为建立多相催化中结构与性能之间的本征关系提供了理想研究平台. 其关键在于, 最外层的配体层构成了团簇与反应环境之间的主要界面, 在此界面上, 对金属-配体相互作用的细微调控即可显著影响体系的电子性质与催化性能. 因此, 通过金纳米团簇的配体-壳层工程, 能够在电催化过程中以原子精度识别活性位点. 尽管已有大量关于硫醇保护的金纳米团簇活性位点的研究, 但对于特定活性中心的准确辨识仍存在争议. 为此, 因此, 厘清金纳米团簇中不同活性位点在电催化过程中的各自作用, 是弥补该领域知识缺口的关键.

本研究创制了“配体剥离-热解”策略, 通过精确控制热处理温度与时间(200-400 °C, 1-3 min), 实现逐步去除配体, 从而在Au25纳米团簇上原子级精准调控硫(S)与金(Au)活性位点的暴露程度. 将该策略应用于电催化二氧化碳还原反应(eCO2RR), 成功建立了清晰的“位点-产物”构效关系. 本工作澄清了金纳米团簇在eCO2RR中关于活性位点归属的长期争议, 明确将不同的催化结果与具体活性位点关联: S位点可高效、高选择性将CO2转化为CO(CO法拉第效率达95.92%), 而Au位点则更倾向于进行析氢反应(H2法拉第效率为79.34%). 基于此, 实现了通过eCO2RR使合成气(CO:H2)比例在0.26-25.47的宽范围内可调, 并能在流动池电解体系中直接获得关键的工业合成气比例(2:1, 1:1, 1:2), 同时维持具有商业化潜力的高电流密度(200-400 mA cm-2). 进一步结合分子动力学模拟与密度泛函理论计算, 阐明了其催化机制: S位点凭借更强的CO2吸附亲和力在动力学上促进CO2还原, 而Au位点则在热力学上更有利于析氢反应, 从而建立了从原子尺度到宏观性能的关联, 为理性催化剂设计构建了一个通用平台.

综上, 本研究不仅为金纳米团簇中S与Au位点在eCO2RR中的不同作用提供了新颖见解, 也为揭示纳米团簇催化剂的结构-性能关系建立了普适性研究平台, 对催化科学、材料及可持续能源领域的发展具有重要参考价值.

关键词: 金纳米团簇, 配体工程, 活性位点, 电催化CO2还原反应, 合成气

Abstract:

Au nanoclusters (NCs) with atomic-level precision represent an ideal model catalyst enabling efficient CO2-to-chemical conversion, yet the catalytic performance of distinct active sites in Au NCs remains poorly understood. In this work, ligand-shell engineering has been successfully carried out through a "ligand-stripping pyrolysis" strategy to obtain modified Au25 NCs for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (eCO2RR). Significantly, in situ pyrolysis techniques and structural characterization identify that the exposure of S/Au active sites has been precisely controlled during the adjusted thermal decomposition of the Au NCs, which establishs a clear site-product relationship. The CO/H2 molar ratio can be precisely adjusted across an exceptionally wide range (0.26-25.47) - a span that encompasses key industrially relevant ratios, such as the 1:2 ratio optimal for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations quantitatively disclose the interaction trend between exposed S/Au sites and CO2. S sites exhibit a superior CO2 affinity, with the local CO2 concentration increasing as S-site density increases, thereby kinetically promoting eCO2RR. Theoretical calculations also reveal that S sites facilitate the stabilization of *CO2 and *CO intermediates and promote electron transfer. In contrast, Au sites are energetically more favorable for the hydrogen evolution reaction. This study establishes an ideal platform for investigating structure-performance relationships of atomically precise NCs and provides guidance for designing metal NCs-based catalysts.

Key words: Au nanoclusters, Ligand engineering, Active sites, Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction, Syngas