@article{nokey,

title = {Local Activity and Selectivity Hotspots in Cu-Pt Model Thin-Film Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction},

author = {L V Deville and R Zehl and L Saluta and Q D Liao and P M Schneider and T Piotrowiak and B Kohnen and E Suhr and A Ludwig and A S Bandarenka},

url = {\<Go to ISI\>://WOS:001672211300001},

doi = {10.1002/smtd.202502169},

issn = {2366-9608},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-02-02},

journal = {Small Methods},

abstract = {While state-of-the-art alloy catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), a key process for future sustainable energy provision, rely on platinum-rich materials, alloys containing less noble metals may play an increasingly important role. In particular, Cu-Pt systems are among state-of-the-art electrocatalysts for O2 electro-reduction, demonstrating high activity and selectivity for the four-electron pathway. This study explores the behavior of Cu-Pt model thin film alloy catalysts using electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (EC-STM), a technique capable of detecting active sites and areas for surface catalytic processes under reaction conditions. Our findings indicate that the nature of active centers changes depending on whether the final product is H2O or H2O2, which can also be generated in parallel. Active centers are located on the (111) terraces for the four-electron ORR and shift to step defects if the hydrogen peroxide generation starts. On the other hand, the grain boundaries do not seem to contribute to the sample activity. These findings can be used in designing the shape of nanoparticles for improved nanostructured materials for energy applications.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{nokey,

title = {Pd-promoted reduction and restructuring of an In2O3-based catalyst for CO2 hydrogenation at room temperature},

author = {X Q Zhang and F Kraushofer and Q Yuan and Y X Wang and M Krinninger and Z K Su and H Z Gai and K Goodman and X Z Zhang and Y Wang and X Tong and T Cheng and J F Wu and B J Lechner and M Blum},

url = {\<Go to ISI\>://WOS:001638855900001},

doi = {10.1016/j.jcat.2025.116618},

issn = {0021-9517},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-02-01},

journal = {Journal of Catalysis},

volume = {454},

abstract = {An unconventional reaction mechanism in an In2O3/Pd(1 1 1) inverse model catalyst for the CO2 hydrogenation reaction has been uncovered: In2O3 is partially reduced at room temperature in a reaction atmosphere as a result of its direct contact with Pd(1 11), which is an efficient H2 splitter. The reduction induces changes in surface free energy, leading to a dynamical restructuring at the In2O3/Pd(1 11) interface via formation of InOx and outward diffusion of Pd, as revealed by ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory simulations. This dynamical restructuring eventually promotes the growth of 2D InPdyOx nanodomains as the catalytically active phase and the exclusive formation of methanol upon hydrogenation of CO2 at room temperature. A comparable high selectivity toward CH3OH was found in more realistic bulk catalytic systems (2 wt% Pd/In2O3 catalyst and commercial CZA catalyst). Scanning tunneling microscopy under ultrahigh vacuum and ambient pressure reaction atmospheres further reveals the structural dynamics at the InOx/Pd(1 1 1) interface, where we follow in situ the evolution of the InOx particles on Pd(1 1 1) and the mobility of the InPdyOx nanodomains in a CO2 + H2 environment. The present findings of the formation of a mixed oxide phase in a dynamically restructuring metal/reducible-oxide interface indicate further implications for other heterogeneous catalytic systems beyond the present CO2 hydrogenation example and highlight the importance of in situ investigations.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{nokey,

title = {Hot-Carrier Generation in Bimetallic Janus Nanoparticles},

author = {H W Jin and C C Xiao and M Herran and E Cortes and S W Gao and J Lischner},

url = {\<Go to ISI\>://WOS:001674320300001},

doi = {10.1021/acsnano.5c17401},

issn = {1936-0851},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-01-29},

journal = {Acs Nano},

abstract = {Energetic electrons and holes generated from the decay of localized surface plasmons in metallic nanoparticles can be harnessed in nanoscale devices for photocatalysis, photovoltaics or sensing. In this work, we study the generation of such hot carriers in bimetallic Janus nanoparticles composed of Au, Ag and Cu using a recently developed atomistic modeling approach that combines a solution of the macroscopic Maxwell equation with large-scale quantum-mechanical tight-binding models. We first analyze spherical Janus nanoparticles whose unique hot-carrier spectrum can be associated with the spectra of the two hemispheres and the interface coupling and find that under solar illumination the Ag-Au system exhibits the highest hot-carrier generation rate. For dumbbell-shaped Janus nanoparticles, we observe a significant increase in hot-carrier generation with increasing neck size. This is caused by a dramatic enhancement of the electric field in the neck region. We also study the dependence of hot-carrier generation on the light polarization and find that the largest generation rates are obtained when the electric field is perpendicular to the interface between the two metals due to the maximal dipole coupling with the electric field. The insights from our study will guide the experimental design of efficient hot-carrier devices based on bimetallic Janus nanoparticles.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}