Why surface hydrophobicity promotes CO<sub>2</sub> electroreduction: a case study of hydrophobic polymer <i>N</i>-heterocyclic carbenes
Qiang Luo, Hanyi Duan, Michael C. McLaughlin, Kecheng Wei, Joseph Tapia, Joseph A. Adewuyi, Seth Shuster, Maham Liaqat, Steven L. Suib, Gaël Ung, Peng Bai, Shouheng Sun, Jie He
Abstract
diffusion and subsequent reduction in the presence of hydrophobic polymers. Furthermore, NHCs exhibited reasonable stability under reductive conditions, preserving the structural integrity of AuNPs, unlike thiol-ended polymers. The combination of NHC binding motifs with hydrophobic polymers provides valuable insights into controlling the microenvironment of metal nanocatalysts, offering a bioinspired strategy for the design of artificial metalloenzymes.
Topics & Concepts
PolymerChemistrySurface (topology)Chemical engineeringCombinatorial chemistryPolymer chemistryOrganic chemistryEngineeringMathematicsGeometryCO2 Reduction Techniques and CatalystsIonic liquids properties and applicationsCarbon dioxide utilization in catalysis