Issue 49/2014 - Metal-graphene reactor crossing the "pressure divide"

On December 15, it was learned from the State Key Laboratory of Catalysis Fundamentals of the Dalian Institute of Chemicals of the Chinese Academy of Sciences that the laboratory has recently made a major breakthrough
in graphene confinement catalysis.
They innovatively used the two-dimensional space formed between graphene and metal surface as a nanoreactor to successfully carry out the surface catalytic reaction under the graphene confinement domain, which opened up a new way
for the regulation of metal surface catalytic activity.

In traditional catalysis, limited by detection methods and understanding of catalytic processes, catalyst development mainly relies on empirical attempts, and the method is poorly controlled, resulting in slow
progress in the research and development of related catalytic processes and catalysts.
Previously, scientists have established a new method for surface chemistry research based on model catalytic systems, but the model catalysis research of this surface chemistry must be carried out under ultra-high vacuum, and there is a "pressure gap"
that is difficult to overcome with the actual reaction of atmospheric pressure or even high pressure.
In the following decades, scientists in various countries made unremitting efforts to overcome this "gap", but it was still difficult to achieve the ideal state
.

The researchers of Dahua Institute innovatively put forward the scientific idea of using the two-dimensional space formed between graphene and metal surface as a nanoreactor by using the photoemission electron microscope/low-energy electron microscope developed by the laboratory and with the help of relevant foreign scientific devices, and carried out the research
on the surface catalytic reaction under the graphene limit 。 They cover the metal surface with a layer of graphene structure, so that CO, O2 and other molecules can be quickly intercalated into the interface between graphene and metal under near-atmospheric pressure conditions, and the unique electronic environment in the confined space formed by the graphene "lid" is used to reduce the activation energy of CO oxidation reaction, change the surface chemical adsorption characteristics of the metal substrate, and significantly accelerate
the catalytic reaction rate.
This breakthrough is of great
significance to the research and practice of heterogeneous catalysis.
(Pay)