Metal Atoms on Surfaces & Interfaces (MASI) for Sustainable Future

表面上的金属原子

• 批准号: EP/V000055/1
• 负责人: Andrei Khlobystov
• 金额: $ 848.56万
• 依托单位: University of Nottingham
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2021 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FV000055%2F1
• 关键词: Metal; Atoms; Surfaces; Interfaces; MASI

What is MASI?We believe that there is a strong link between the looming environmental crisis and the way we use chemical elements. In MASI, a multidisciplinary team of scientists from four UK universities (Nottingham, Cardiff, Cambridge, Birmingham), with 12 industrial and academic partners, is set to revolutionise the ways we use metals in a broad range of technologies, and to break our dependence on critically endangered elements. Simultaneously, MASI will make advances in: the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and its valorisation into useful chemicals; the production of 'green' ammonia (NH3) as an alternative zero-emission fuel and a new vector for hydrogen storage; and the provision of more sustainable fuel cells and electrolyser technologies. At the core of MASI is the fundamental science of metal nanoclusters (MNC), which goes beyond the traditional realm of nanoparticles towards the nanometre and sub-nanometre domain including single metal atoms (SMA). The overall goal of the MASI project is two-fold: (i) to provide a solution for a sustainable use of scarce metals of technological importance (e.g. Pt, Au, Pd), by maximising utilisation of every atom; and (ii) to unlock new properties that emerge in metals only at the atomic scale, allowing for the substitution of critical metals with abundant ones (e.g. Pt with Ni), and provide a platform for the next generation of materials for energy, catalysis and electronics applications.How does it work?We have recently developed the theoretical framework and instrumentation necessary to break bulk metals directly to metal atoms or nanoclusters, with their size, shape and composition precisely controlled. The atomic-scale control of nanocluster fabrication will open the door for programming their chemistry. For example, the electronic, catalytic or electrochemical properties of abundant metals, such as Ni and Co, may imitate endangered metals (Pt or Ru) at the nm and sub-nm scale, or by carefully controlled dispersion of the endangered elements with abundant ones in an alloy nanocluster.Our method allows direct deposition of metal atoms or nanoclusters onto solids (e.g. glass, polymer film, paper etc.), powders (e.g. silica, alumina, carbon etc.) and non-volatile liquids (e.g. oils, ionic liquids) in vacuum with no chemicals, solvents or surfactants and an accurately controlled metal loading. The directness of the MASI approach avoids generating chemical waste and enables a high 'atom economy', surpassing any wet chemistry methods. Moreover, surfaces of our metal nanoclusters are clean and highly active; additionally, being stabilised by interactions with the support material, they can be readily applied wherever electronic, optical or catalytic properties of metals are required.What is unique about these materials and our technology?MASI will offer greener, more sustainable methods of fabrication of metal nanoclusters, without solvents or chemicals, with the maximised active surface area ensuring efficient use of each metal atom.'Naked', highly active metal surfaces are ready for reactions with molecules, activated by heat, light or electric potential, while tuneable interactions with support materials provide durability and reusability of metals in reactions. In particular, MASI materials will be suitable for the activation of hard-to-crack molecules (e.g. N2, H2 and CO2) in reactions that constitute the backbone of the chemical industry, such as the Haber-Bosch process. Similarly, highly dispersed metals and their intimate contact with the support material, will lead to high capacity for energy storage/conversion required in energy materials and fuel cells technologies. Importantly, MASI nanocluster fabrication technology is fully scalable to kilograms and tons of material, making it ideal for uptake in industrial schemes, potentially leading to a green industrial revolution.

MASI是什么？我们认为，迫在眉睫的环境危机与我们使用化学元素的方式之间存在着强烈的联系。在马西，一个由来自四所英国大学(诺丁汉、卡迪夫、剑桥、伯明翰)的科学家组成的多学科团队，以及12个工业界和学术界合作伙伴，将彻底改变我们在各种技术中使用金属的方式，并打破我们对极度濒危元素的依赖。与此同时，MASI将在以下方面取得进展：减少二氧化碳(CO2)排放并将其价态转化为有用的化学品；生产作为替代零排放燃料和氢气储存新载体的“绿色”氨(NH3)；以及提供更可持续的燃料电池和电解槽技术。MASI的核心是金属纳米团簇(MNC)的基础科学，它超越了传统的纳米领域，向包括单金属原子(SMA)在内的纳米和亚纳米领域发展。MASI项目的总体目标有两个：(1)通过最大限度地利用每个原子，为可持续使用具有技术重要性的稀有金属(如铂、金、钯)提供解决办法；以及(Ii)解锁金属中仅在原子尺度上出现的新性质，允许用丰富的金属取代关键金属(例如，用镍取代铂)，并为下一代能源、催化和电子应用材料提供平台。它是如何工作的？我们最近开发了必要的理论框架和仪器，将大宗金属直接分解为金属原子或纳米团簇，并精确控制它们的大小、形状和成分。纳米团簇制造的原子尺度控制将为他们的化学编程打开大门。例如，镍和钴等丰富金属的电子、催化或电化学性质可以在纳米和亚纳米尺度上模拟濒危金属(铂或Ru)，或者通过小心控制濒危元素在合金纳米簇中的丰富分散。我们的方法允许将金属原子或纳米簇直接沉积到固体(例如玻璃、聚合物薄膜、纸张等)、粉末(例如二氧化硅、氧化铝、碳等)上。和非挥发性液体(如油、离子液体)在真空中，不含化学物质、溶剂或表面活性剂，金属载量精确控制。MASI方法的直接性避免了产生化学废物，并实现了比任何湿化学方法更高的原子经济性。此外，我们的金属纳米团簇的表面是清洁和高活性的；此外，通过与支撑材料的相互作用，它们可以很容易地应用于任何需要金属的电子、光学或催化性能的地方。这些材料和我们的技术有什么独特之处？MASI将提供更环保、更可持续的金属纳米团簇制造方法，不使用溶剂或化学物质，最大限度地利用活跃的表面积，确保每个金属原子的有效利用。裸露的、高度活跃的金属表面准备好与分子反应，通过热、光或电势激活，而与支撑材料的可调相互作用提供了金属在反应中的耐久性和可重复使用性。特别是，MASI材料将适合于在构成化学工业支柱的反应中激活难以破裂的分子(例如，氮气、氢气和二氧化碳)，如哈伯-博世工艺。同样，高度分散的金属及其与载体材料的密切接触将导致能源材料和燃料电池技术所需的高能量存储/转换能力。重要的是，MASI纳米簇制造技术可以完全扩展到千克和吨级的材料，使其成为工业计划中吸收的理想选择，有可能导致一场绿色工业革命。

项目成果

Monolayer WS$_2$ electro- and photo-luminescence enhancement by TFSI treatment

通过 TFSI 处理增强单层 WS$_2$ 电致发光和光致发光

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2305.01791
• 发表时间: 2023
• 作者: Cadore A

Graphene-black phosphorus printed photodetectors

• DOI: 10.1088/2053-1583/acc74c
• 发表时间: 2023-07-01
• 期刊: 2D MATERIALS
• 影响因子: 5.5
• 作者: Akhavan, S.;Ruocco, A.;Ferrari, A. C.
• 通讯作者: Ferrari, A. C.

Terahertz photodetection in scalable single-layer-graphene and hexagonal boron nitride heterostructures

• DOI: 10.1063/5.0097726
• 发表时间: 2022-07-18
• 期刊: APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
• 影响因子: 4
• 作者: Asgari, M.;Viti, L.;Vitiello, M. S.
• 通讯作者: Vitiello, M. S.

Blurring the boundary between homogenous and heterogeneous catalysis using palladium nanoclusters with dynamic surfaces.

使用具有动态表面的钯纳米簇模糊了同质和异质催化之间的边界。

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25263-6
• 发表时间: 2021-08-17
• 期刊: Nature communications
• 影响因子: 16.6
• 作者: Cano I;Weilhard A;Martin C;Pinto J;Lodge RW;Santos AR;Rance GA;Åhlgren EH;Jónsson E;Yuan J;Li ZY;Licence P;Khlobystov AN;Alves Fernandes J
• 通讯作者: Alves Fernandes J

Near- and Far-Field Observation of Phonon Polaritons in Wafer-Scale Multilayer Hexagonal Boron Nitride Prepared by Chemical Vapor Deposition.

化学气相沉积制备的晶圆级多层六方氮化硼中声子极化子的近场和远场观察。

• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202302045
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
• 作者: Calandrini E