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Crystal-phase and surface-structure engineering of ruthenium nanocrystals

Nature Reviews Materials volume 5, pages 440–459 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Metal nanocrystals with controlled shapes or surface structures have received increasing attention, owing to their desirable properties for applications ranging from catalysis to photonics, energy and biomedicine. Most studies, however, have been limited to nanocrystals with the same crystal phase as the bulk material. Engineering the phase of metal nanocrystals while simultaneously attaining shape-controlled synthesis has recently emerged as a new frontier of research. Here, we use Ru as an example to evaluate recent progress in the synthesis of metal nanocrystals featuring different crystal phases and well-controlled shapes. We first discuss synthetic strategies for controlling the crystal phase and shape of Ru nanocrystals, with a focus on new mechanistic insights. We then highlight the major factors that affect the packing of Ru atoms and, thus, the crystal phase, followed by an examination of the thermal stability of Ru nanocrystals in terms of both crystal phase and shape. Next, we showcase the successful implementation of these Ru nanocrystals in various catalytic applications. Finally, we end with a discussion of the challenges and opportunities in the field, including leveraging the lessons learned from Ru to engineer the crystal phase and surface structure of other metals.

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Fig. 1: Timeline showing key accomplishments in engineering the crystal and surface structures of Ru nanocrystals.
Fig. 2: Ru nanocrystals with hexagonal close-packed structure.
Fig. 3: Ru nanocrystals with different atomic packing and, thus, distinctive physicochemical properties.
Fig. 4: Ru-based core–shell nanocrystals.
Fig. 5: Ru nanocages and nanotubes.
Fig. 6: Pd–Ru core–frame nanocrystals and Ru nanoframes.
Fig. 7: Thermal stability of Ru nanocrystals.
Fig. 8: Ru catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, hydrogenation and dehydrogenation.
Fig. 9: Ru catalysts for water splitting.
Fig. 10: Ru catalysts for hydrogen-oxidation reaction, N2 reduction and CO oxidation.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported, in part, by research grants from the National Science Foundation, including DMR-1505400, CHE-1505441 and CHE-1804970. It was also supported by start-up funds from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

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  1. School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Ming Zhao & Younan Xia

  2. The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Younan Xia

  3. School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Younan Xia

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  1. Ming Zhao
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Zhao, M., Xia, Y. Crystal-phase and surface-structure engineering of ruthenium nanocrystals. Nat Rev Mater 5, 440–459 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-020-0183-3

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