Ag Doped Au₄₄ Nanoclusters for Electrocatalytic Conversion of CO₂ to CO

Abstract

Abstract A novel Ag doped Au 44 (C 10 H 9 ) 28 nanocluster (C 10 H 10 =1‐ethynyl‐2,4‐dimethylbenzene) was synthesized, that is, Ag 4+x Au 40‐x (C 10 H 9 ) 28 (x≤6), where four Ag positions located in the surface staple of the cluster have been determined, while six Au/Ag co‐occupying positions have been found in the metal core of the cluster. The electronic configuration of Au 44 (C 10 H 9 ) 28 cluster is significantly disturbed by doping Ag atoms, hence promoting the electron transport capability. For the two‐electron conversion reaction of CO 2 to CO in electrochemical reduction of CO 2 , Ag doped Ag 4+x Au 40‐x (C 10 H 9 ) 28 catalyst exhibited higher effective activity and long‐term stability than its counterpart Au 44 (C 10 H 9 ) 28 catalyst.