Competitive Adsorption-Assisted Formation of One-Dimensional Cobalt Nanochains with High CO Hydrogenation Activity

A dramatic morphology evolution from cobalt nanoparticles to one-dimensional cobalt nanochains have been found by the introduction of CO in the synthesis process. The competitive adsorption between oleylamine (OAm) and CO molecules on cobalt surface was analyzed by DFT calculations. The competitive adsorption provides an effective way to regulate the surface properties of cobalt nanoaparticles, thus adjusting the interactions between cobalt nanoparticles and leading the self-assembly formation of cobalt nanochains. The novel one-dimensional cobalt nanochains show superior activity for CO hydrogenation, thus providing a powerful strategy for the surface and morphology controlled synthesis of catalyst nanomaterials assisted by small molecules.