Cover Feature: CeO2 Supported Gold Nanocluster Catalysts for CO Oxidation: Surface Evolution Influenced by the Ligand Shell (ChemCatChem 14/2022)

The Cover Feature shows the “four seasons” of ligand-protected Au nanoclusters on CeO2, used as catalysts in heterogeneous CO oxidation. In their Research Article, N. Barrabés and co-workers followed the evolution of the protecting ligand sphere by in situ IR spectroscopy, which allowed to investigate the dynamics of surface species in detail. After preparation of the gold clusters in solution, they were immobilized on ceria and subsequently subjected to oxidative pretreatment to facilitate ligand removal. For phosphine-protected Au nanoclusters – shown in the image – residues of the ligand sphere were found to remain in the system at the interfacial sites. This affected the CO oxidation activity of the cluster catalysts, leading to conversions lower than that of their thiolate-protected counterparts. This study shows that the protecting ligands play an important role in heterogeneous catalysis and need to be considered when designing a catalytic system.More information can be found in the Research Article by N. Barrabés and co-workers.