Ag Doped Au Nanoclusters for Electrocatalytic Conversion of CO to CO.

A novel Ag doped Au (C H ) nanocluster (C H =1-ethynyl-2,4-dimethylbenzene) was synthesized, that is, Ag Au (C H ) (x≤6), where four Ag positions located in the surface staple of the cluster have been determined, while six Au/Ag co-occupying positions have been found in the metal core of the cluster. The electronic configuration of Au (C H ) cluster is significantly disturbed by doping Ag atoms, hence promoting the electron transport capability. For the two-electron conversion reaction of CO to CO in electrochemical reduction of CO , Ag doped Ag Au (C H ) catalyst exhibited higher effective activity and long-term stability than its counterpart Au (C H ) catalyst.