The utilization of renewable and waste carbon sources (e.g., biomass, CO2) for the production of fuels and chemicals relies on the selective catalytic transformation of highly functionalized compounds into targeted precursors and products. Addressing this challenge requires multi-functional catalysts with controlled active sites that promote desired transformations (e.g., hydrogenation, deoxygenation, C–C coupling), while maintaining performance under severe conditions, and that can be produced cost-effectively at relevant scales. Transition metal phosphides have emerged as a versatile materials platform with the potential to meet these goals due to the unique structural and electronic properties imparted by the incorporation of phosphorus. Consequently, they can exhibit tunable catalytic reactivity based on the metal identity, stoichiometry, and crystal structure. These attributes have given them broad applicability for a variety of thermocatalytic and electrocatalytic reactions including upgrading of biomass-derived intermediates and reduction of CO2 to higher-value products. Advances in the controlled nanostructuring of metal phosphides has resulted in promising catalytic performance as well as a greater understanding of fundamental structure–function relationships that drive the development of next-generation catalysts. Mild solution synthesis routes to catalytically relevant metal phosphides can provide tunability of the catalyst structure, ease of handling and processing of the nanoparticles in solution, feasibility of modifying surface chemistry, and the use of low reaction temperatures and short reaction times. Ongoing research in our group has focused on developing solution synthesis methodologies that enable precise control of catalyst structure and properties to enable targeted catalytic reactivity. This presentation will focus on recent developments on a versatile molecular precursor route to metal and mixed-metal phosphide nanoparticles, how this approach allows us to control active sites in the resulting catalytic materials, and the impact that these modifications have on key transformations of model carbon-based compounds. Additionally, our ongoing collaboration with Professor Richard Brutchey at the University of Southern California will be highlighted, which has demonstrated the potential of continuous flow approaches for the synthesis of nanostructured catalysts at scales required for emerging catalytic carbon transformation processes.

Nanostructured metal phosphide catalysts for renewable carbon conversion processes

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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