Chengsi Pan

Bio: Chengsi Pan is an academic researcher from Jiangnan University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Bismuth & Materials science. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 12 publications receiving 40 citations.

Unravelling the electrocatalytic activity of bismuth nanosheets towards carbon dioxide reduction: Edge plane versus basal plane

Abstract: Electrochemical reduction of CO2 (ECO2RR) to formate is one of effective approaches to achieve carbon recycling processes. Despite Bi nanosheets (NSs) have been proven to be highly selective in ECO2RR to formate, the understanding of the true active sites is needed to further dig out the potential of catalytic activity of Bi NSs. In this work, we developed a rational synthesis approach to manipulate the basal-/edge-plane ratio of Bi NSs via topotactic reduction of (004)-oriented Bi5O7I NSs and (102)-oriented BiOI NSs to reveal the contribution of basal and edge planes on the performance of ECO2RR. In comparison with edge-oriented Bi NSs, basal-oriented Bi NSs show higher catalytic activity. DFT calculations have proven that the competition of the kinetically favored HER would be inhibited on basal planes of Bi NSs, indicating the increasement of the proportion of basal planes on Bi NSs or Bi based 2D catalysts improves ECO2RR conversion efficiency.

Improving the photocatalytic activity of benzyl alcohol oxidation by Z-scheme SnS/g-C3N4

Abstract: Until now, the effective photocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde with high selectivity is still a great challenge. It is reported that the carrier separation rate is the key factor affecting the photocatalytic activity, and the formation of heterojunction is an effective solution to hinder electron–hole recombination. SnS with a narrow band gap has excellent light absorption performance, which covers the whole visible light region. After compounding with g-C3N4, the light utilization of the SnS/g-C3N4 photocatalyst is effectively improved. In addition, a Z-scheme heterojunction is formed between SnS and g-C3N4 due to the matched energy levels, which accelerates the separation of electrons and holes and improves the conversion of benzyl alcohol effectively. In this paper, the charge separation is accelerated to promote the reaction by the in situ construction of Z-scheme heterojunctions; the preparation method, reaction mechanism and energy level structure of the photocatalyst can play a certain guiding role in the organic conversion reaction.

Create a strong internal electric-field on PDI photocatalysts for boosting phenols degradation via preferentially exposing π-conjugated planes up to 100%

Abstract: Nearly 100% exposure of π-conjugated planes, whose structure inherently exhibits large electron delocalization and fast charge transfer, has been achieved in perylene diimide (PDI) supramolecular photocatalysts by a solvent-induced self-assembly method. The high exposure ratio of π-conjugated planes is found to cause a larger surface potential and higher surface charge density by experimental data, and higher electron distribution by DFT calculations, relative to π-stacked planes exposed on PDI nanorods or (020) planes exposed on PDI particles, resulting in a strong internal electric field. This gives π-conjugated PDI ca. 8–17 times higher activity on phenols photodegradation than reported PDI, and 4–6 times higher activity than well-known photocatalysts like Bi2WO6 or g-C3N4. The successful control of PDI to preferentially expose π-conjugated planes may not only boost the photocatalytic activity in this system, but also give some guidelines in the design and development of more efficient organic photocatalysts with wide spectrum response.

Catalytic properties of single layers of transition metal sulfide catalytic materials.

Abstract: Single layer transition metal sulfides (SLTMS) such as MoS{sub 2}, WS{sub 2}, and ReS{sub 2}, play an important role in catalytic processes such as the hydrofining of petroleum streams, and are involved in at least two of the slurry-catalyst hydroconversion processes that have been proposed for upgrading heavy petroleum feed and other sources of hydrocarbon fuels such as coal and shale oils. Additional promising catalytic applications of the SLTMS are on the horizon. The physical, chemical, and catalytic properties of these materials are reviewed in this report. Also discussed are areas for future research that promise to lead to advanced applications of the SLTMS.

Noble-metal single-atoms in thermocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and photocatalysis

Abstract: Noble metals have received widespread applications in the field of catalysis due to their unique intrinsic properties and irreplaceable catalytic activities. However, in consideration of the scarcity and high cost, maximizing the efficiency of noble metals for catalysis is of prime importance in the societal pursuit of sustainable energy. In recent years, noble-metal single-atom catalysts (NMSACs) with well-defined structures have gained great research attention due to their maximum atom utilization efficiency (100%), distinct active sites and high catalytic activity and selectivity. This review comprehensively discusses the recent advancements in NMSACs for catalytic applications. Firstly, various fabrication strategies for NMSACs are introduced with a focus on how to effectively stabilize single noble-metal atoms on appropriate substrates and prevent their migration and aggregation. Subsequently, some advanced characterization techniques are presented to precisely probe the noble-metal active sites at the atomic level, which is critical to investigate the structure of NMSACs. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive summary of various types of NMSACs for the applications of thermocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and photocatalysis, with special emphasis on the structure–activity relationships and the underlying catalytic mechanisms. Finally, the remaining challenges and future opportunities are provided for guiding the rational design of advanced NMSACs toward various catalytic processes in the chemical transformation and energy conversion fields.

Metal–Support Interactions in Metal/Oxide Catalysts and Oxide–Metal Interactions in Oxide/Metal Inverse Catalysts

Abstract: Solid catalysts usually consist of multicomponents, within which interfacial interactions have been recognized as a key factor affecting structures and catalytic performance. Metal–support interactions (MSI) have been extensively studied in oxide-supported metal catalysts (metal/oxide catalysts), in which the important concepts of strong metal–support interactions (SMSI) and electronic metal–support interactions (EMSI) have been well established and their effects on the metal catalysis have been extensively demonstrated. Recently, metal-supported oxide inverse catalysts (oxide/metal inverse catalysts) have emerged as a new type of efficient catalysts, in which the oxide–metal interactions (OMI) strongly influence the oxide catalysis. Herein we comprehensively review the progresses on the MSI of metal/oxide catalysts and OMI of oxide/metal inverse catalysts with aims to emphasize structure sensitivity of MSI and OMI and to introduce the concepts of electronic oxide–metal interactions (EOMI) and electronic oxide–metal strong interactions (EOMSI) in oxide/metal inverse catalysts, in analogy to the concepts of EMSI and SMSI in metal/oxide catalysts. First, we briefly introduce the background of the topic and the interfacial interactions between metals and oxides with emphasis on the nature of metal–support interfacial interactions depending on the electronic structures. Second, the MSI, with an emphasis on the EMSI and SMSI, in metal/oxide catalysts is reviewed with an emphasis on the recently exported size and facet effects on the electronic structures and MSI. Third, the OMI in oxide/metal inverse catalysts is reviewed with an emphasis on introducing the EOMI and EOMSI. Finally, a summary and outlook is given with emphasis on the local nature and structure sensitivity of MSI and OMI.

CeO2 supported Pd dimers boosting CO2 hydrogenation to ethanol

Abstract: Hydrogenation of CO2 into valuable chemicals is of great significance but very challenging due to its chemical inertness and selectivity controlling. Here, we report that CeO2 supported Pd dimers can efficiently convert CO2 to ethanol with significantly higher activity and selectivity compared to those in literatures, which gives a selectivity of 99.2 % to ethanol with a space-time yield of 45.6 gethanol gPd−1 h−1. The Pd dimers possessing unique Pd2O4 configuration and high homogeneity enables to directly dissociate CO2 to CO, trigger C C coupling but appropriately inhibit further C2+ coupling, which benefits to selectively form ethanol. The Pd2O4 configuration can strongly bind CO on Pd2/CeO2, which prevents CO desorption and promotes the coupling between CO and CH3 intermediates to form the precursor of ethanol. The strategy of constructing atom-precision active sites reported in this work opens new avenues to develop highly selective catalysts for CO2/CO hydrogenation reactions.