"SmartMat Lecture Series" - Structural control of Metal Nanoclusters (MNCs) and their application in energy and environmental catalysts
On April 18, 2024, in response to the invitation of the School of Science of Tianjin University, the Key Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronics Science, and the editorial Department of SmartMat, Prof. Yuichi Negishi, Professor and Head of the Department of Chemistry, and Dean of Graduate School at Tokyo University of Science, Japan, visited Tianjin University. A lecture entitled "Structural Control of Metal Nanoclusters (MNCs) and their application in Energy and Environmental catalysts" was held in the conference room on the second floor of the Third Teaching Building of Tianjin University. The lecture was hosted by Prof. Qiaofeng Yao, School of Science, Tianjin University, and attended by Prof. Liqiang Li, Prof. Zhicheng Zhang, Prof. Wenge Jiang, and Associate Prof. Fei Jiao, etc.
In order to build a sustainable society, the synthesis of catalysts that can solve today's environmental and energy problems is essential. First of all, Prof. Yuichi Negishi introduced the definition and properties of MNCs. MNCs is a class of ultra-small nanoparticles with a diameter of less than 3 nm composed of coinage metal atoms. MNCS generally have a core-shell structure characteristic of "metal core-organomemetal complex shell". MNCs exhibit completely different physical and chemical properties from conventional nanoparticles. In addition, metal doping can also cause MNCs to produce different structures and properties. After that, Prof. Yuichi Negishi introduced several methods to control the structure and composition of MNCs and a synthesis method using metal clusters as co-catalysts, which improved the performance of MNCs for photocatalytic water decomposition, fuel cells and catalytic degradation of automobile exhaust gas. Based on this, Prof. Yuichi Negishi's research group also successfully developed a high-performance catalyst for the purification of automobile exhaust gas. Finally, in the Q&A session, Prof. Yuichi Negishi offered patient and detailed answers to the questions raised by the teachers and students, showing his profound academic accomplishment and profound insight into the application of MNCs in catalysis.
After the lecture, on behalf of the School of Science of Tianjin University, the Key Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits of the Ministry of Education, the Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronics Science, and the editorial team of SmartMat. Prof. Qiaofeng Yao expressed gratitude to Prof. Yuichi Negishi again. Prof. Yuichi Negishi's lecture is not only about implanting knowledge, but also about broadening participants' horizons and stimulating cross-cutting innovative thinking.
