Earth-abundant Ni-Zn nanocrystals for efficient alkyne semihydrogenation catalysis

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58838-8
• Publication Date: 2025-05-12T08:11:39Z
• Authors: Jasper Clarysse; Jordan De Jesus S...; Yunhua Xing; Seraphine B. X. Y...; Scott R. Docherty; Nuri Yazdani; Maksym Yarema; Christophe Copéret; Vanessa Wood
• Keywords: Bimetallic strip; Alkyne; Reactivity

Abstract The development of catalysts that are based on earth-abundant metals remains a grand challenge. Alloy nanocrystals (NCs) form an emerging class heterogeneous catalysts, offering the promise small, uniform with composition-control. Here, we report synthesis small Ni and bimetallic Ni-X (X= Zn, Ga, In) NCs for alkyne semihydrogenation catalysis. We show 3 Zn particularly reactive selective under mild reaction conditions at low loadings. While all more than pure NCs, Ni-Zn also maintain excellent reactivity compared to Ni-Ga Ni-In alloys. Ab-initio calculations can explain differences in reactivity, indicating that, unlike Ga In, atoms interact substrates. further robust tolerate broad range substrates, which may be linked favorable amine-terminated surface.