Minghui Tang,Shanjun Mao,Xuefeng Li,Chunhong Chen,Mingming Li,Yong Wang
On the way to exploring superior hydrogenation catalysts, Ir-based catalysts with a record catalytic activity (up to 40 h−1) for the hydrogenation of benzoic acid to cyclohexanecarboxylic acid under mild reaction conditions (85 °C, 0.1 MPa H2, in water) have been successfully developed. By excluding various factors, the experimental results showed that the main factor governing the activity discrepancy between the Ir-based catalysts is actually the dispersion stability of the supports (such as N-doped carbon, active carbon, SBA-15 and various metal oxides) in the reaction solution, rather than the interaction between the Ir active component and the supports. Combined with theoretical investigation from first principles, an activity volcano curve considering the competing adsorption between the reactants (H2) and solvent (H2O) for aqueous aromatic ring hydrogenation was presented for the first time. The high activity of Ir can be deduced by the proper discrepancy of dissociation energies or adsorption energies between H2 and H2O on the catalysts. This activity volcano curve provides guidance for further rational design of promising catalysts for benzoic acid or even aromatic ring hydrogenation under true reaction conditions for practical applications.
Chuanhui Zhu,Guo-Hong Cai,Chongyang Yuan,Bin Huang,Guangqin Li,Mark Croft,Martha Greenblatt,Man-Rong Li
Exploring a simple model system to realize the intrinsic guidelines of activity for oxide electrocatalysts is urgent and important. Here, we introduce delafossite oxides A2IrO3 (A = Li, Na, Cu) as a family of oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts in alkaline media. We show that, in Cu2IrO3, the intrinsic intersite charge transfer between Cu and Ir improves the electrocatalytic activity by simultaneously increasing the conductivity and reducing the Tafel slope down to 51 mV dec−1 with an overpotential η10 = 361 mV. Through a comparative study, the improved activity of Cu2IrO3 is attributed to the increase of Ir 5d projected electronic density of states with extended Ir–O bond length. This study provides insights into advanced catalyst design through tailoring the active site of oxides by the modulation of electronic states in a given structural motif.