Motivated by the high performance of intermetallic compounds with their ordered structures, developing the synthetic method for preparing intermetallic compounds is highly desired. Here, we report facile syntheses and rational design of the structurally ordered Cu-based intermetallic compounds. Phase-pure CuM (M=Pt, Pd, Au) intermetallic nanoparticles were synthesized in solution by a butyllithium co-reduction method at 240 <sup>o</sup>C. The developed wet-chemistry syntheses of ordered intermetallic CuM nanoparticles avoid the solid annealing process, thus formation of relatively small and phase-pure intermetallic nanocrystals. The ordered PtCu nanocatalysts show enhanced chemoselectivity relative to PtCu solid-solution alloy and individual monometallic nanocatalysts for catalytic hydrogenations of a series of substituted nitroaromatics. The theoretic calculations for hydrogenations of halonitrobenzenes suggest that the structurally ordered surfaces of intermetallic PtCu favor the adsorption of reactants and desorption of products. Moreover, the surface geometry of ordered PtCu structures favors the hydrogenation of nitro substituent and disfavors the hydrodechlorination by-reaction, resulting in enhanced chemoselectivity.<br/>

Phase-pure intermetallic nanocrystals and enhanced hydrogenation chemoselectivity with intermetallic PtCu nanocatalysts

256th National Meeting (2018)

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